Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-12-31

Major Gen. MCCLELLAN.
s Williams, Assistant AtjuAnt General
IFrOn The New York Herald. Dec SS
ETEEcrs OF COLD UPON OUR SOLDIERS.
Our Washington correspondents inform usthat orr sol
ders of the Potomac army are bSganng 70 s1sr con
iJs-.hlv from the cold weather This Is not surprising,
wen they are still under canvass From this very CIR
eunstance however we satisfied that Gen. Mcclellan
i contemplating forward movement, and has no idea
that The return Of Spring will find his vast army stretch
"a along the windy hills Of Fairfax. he knoWs from the
exp,rence ofNapolson, that army In motion, Div
ouckng a. the open sky in the dead OF winter srnes
much lees from disease than an army ever so wen sso-
Nahedin winter quarters Compare, Tor example, me
sprngs of The British army in iis winter quarters bs-
FORE Sbssopo With the remarkable good health o. Ma
poleOn's lsgous in that winter eOmpAgn OF Aust-rz
Vast bodes Of men enclosed huted for two three
months In the place, inevitably TO greater or less
sttsnt produces infections and malignant disorders
Hnee 70 douht the shifting Of BsSuregaTds central CO.
luup from Manassas 90 CnSevils, and the continual
movements OF the eremy from one point 70 another along
their general ine OF occupation Let US &c paisnt.-
F6ero are good reasons for the retef ton OF cur
Pc omac army under st this time. TIE climate,
as YOU 80 soaihWaTd becomes warner, dlOg huts are
not Convenient Srtioles Of transportation.
ARRNsr OF AN ALLEGED SPIT Il wAsRKGroK.
middle ,ged woman, and very well dressed, with
strongly MAJ ked masculine features arrested TO day
on suspicion Of being sPy At the Instance OF De- Ship
pan having charge Of the division hospital In Gen. Nc
oud tonic to sell 20 the soldiers being penuuly sup
pied with both d. Shipper examined the con ents Of
one OF the bottles and found Il mcs. deleterous CON-
pound Her Inconsistent stories about herself her pass
dating back nearly three months and the fact that her
beng seen proving about Ia out Of the way places st
strange hours OF the night the principal
ng 70 her arrest She gives her meme az Mrs Sdnson,
rsidenee at Bangor Name and prstends TO have one
sou and thirteen nsphews ia the Unon army. UPoa be-
ias questioned the and regiments Of the lat
Il II 40 haafa
oaSEDERArEs IN ENGLAND.
The London Observer informs US that steps bAve been
takea 70 pm, stop to what calls american espionage
in Engaod that Is TO cay, the system Of seadng out
detective policeman watch Southern rebels 10 English
ei.ies and towns. The editor says;
"Ar Adams ne Uui,ed States Minister in LondOn is
understood ali along have protested against these do
ngs and they appear TO have been carried through
tNe ius,rumen4ty Of asother Ambassador OF the i
ted States az foreign court but it is expected that
disclosures that have taken place viii have the f ct
Of putng al end 10 proceedings that have caused 50
much public GU cry aud indignation"
rHs HARRcR NAV YORK
There preparations for one thousand guns for the
defence Of the harb0r Of New York bu. there not
oas thousand gias ready. ard long limo INST eapse
before they can be supplied Same five buld'ed good
guns ho1ever in place in the inaer outer har
Dor and two huaired others OF an Inferior quality
Tae government IS prosecuting tho work as fast a. posi-
bE.-ElPTssa.
FEDERAL CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
WAsHISGroS Dec 9S.-Ia the Senate to-day, Mr. Lane,
Of Indiana presented the credentials of Hon Garrett
Davis Senator elect from Kentucky, in place OF Breckin
ridge, expelled.
NJ Davis appeared and took the oath.
Sumner presented the memorial Of the citizens Of Bos
tor stating that the freedom Of the press had bseu alb
rid ged, and asking relief
Mr. Fessendep, from the Committee on Fcancc, re-
ported bill making appropriations for guu.boa,s in
Western rivers. TIE bill ap9roprAtes u 100000 1t
MAS pissed.
Mr. King offered resolution that the President be re-
ulesed 20 institute proceedings in the courts OF laE
asahN persons who may have been arrested by EIecu
tive authority and wlo are nov remai"ng in custody,
50 that uiica Il animation may b. had in each cIse
to ascertain who may be aloWed take the oath Of al
legitnce aud who should be detained Laid over.
Nc Simmons offered resolution that select
mes Of three appointed TO consider the exc dieaey
Of connecting military and naval stations the
coas. by submarine telegraph. Adopted.
Mr.. Wilson ntroiuc d the following bill
Whereas 0ieers OF the military Of the United States
have without authority Of law ard against the plain die
tAes Of justice and humanity caused persons cAnej
fugTes from service or labor, 10 be seized and dev-
cred up
whereas, such conduct has brought Siscr6dl upon
our arms ard reproseh upon our Government: There
fore,
b il enacted That any Hi,er ia the Military Ma.
val service OF the United States who shall cause any per
son claimed BE- held service labor by Of
rcau descent 70 b. ssz d. held detained dev red
no, for any person claiming sucl service or labor,
shall be deemed gully OF a msdemeaaor and shall be
dshonoraby dscharg and Be forever inel gbc any
appointment in the Military Naval service Of the Uai
tel Safes.
Twas read twice aud referred to the Committee on
Military Affairs.
bill from the House to Increase the duties on tea
coffee and sugar then received and on moioa OF
Nc Feassnien it Immediately taken up. Toe bill
fEss duty OF 20 cents per pound on tea, cents
cOfes tree c'uts on sDgIr five 10 eight cents on
other suglrs and sx cents per gslOa mOlIsses IL
put through the various stages and at passsd
TIE bill goes into operation on the frat Of January
next.
NJ valndisham introduced bill 10 enroree the
writ Of habeas corpus and the liberty of the cii
Tue b provides that except when Congress shall
because the public safety requires H. have suspended
the writ any person confined detained in any jail,
dungeon fortress, other place Of confinement in
any way; whatsoever deprived Of his liberty by any
United States Cticer, civil military naval or by any
person under any claim Of authority from the United
SAFES sh, have the privilege Of the writ forthwith be-
fore any Court Judge Of the UOited States: and pun
isA"s the refusal neglect 20 allow the issue obey
the writ With penalty Of $1,000 TO the party aggrieved,
and 61e imprisonment bcth at the discretion OF
the court Il fOrbds, under the penalties the
coumi meat for the sans Ciisnc5 Of any dis
chargel on srit OF habea3 corpus, and prohibits also
the removal Of prisoners from one State District to
another
The S'h section provides shat no officer OF the Uaited
S.s,e5 Ciy, Military o. Nsval departments shall under
aly preence of authority whatever except that Of Goa
gress attempt to suspend the privilege OF the writ,
der penalty Of fine not exceeding IS 600, aud mpris
eminent exceeding two years. aud gives also right
Of action for damages 10 the party acgressed Section
h provides that il any officer Of the United States Civ
A. Military, or Naval departments shall, except when
Congress shall have suspended the writ Of habsas
pus issue any orders OF for any per-
prisoner Of Safe for political of,nces, and not
forthwith deliver such person TO tie Judicial author
Ties for trl such officer shall De fined in any from
one to FIVE thousand dolars-or imprisoned for six
months 10 one year, or both at the discretion Of G.
curt and Moreover gives right Of action for dmsges
TO the patty aggris'Sd- The bill provides also, the
means OF enforcing the order OF the conr. in
d.rh The bill was referred 10 the Committee on the
Judiciary and ordered to be printed.
Mr. Watts, Of New Mexico, introduced bill TO pro-
vide for temporary Government for the Territory of
Arizona Referred.
The Horse then resumed the consideration Of Mr..
Wilson's n solution, that the Military COMMITTEES be in
srue,ed 10 report bill enacng additional article Of
VA for the government Of the amy, prohibiting any
(, Ma nd