The Local news. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-12-21

The resolution to inquire whether Gen.
Phelps proclamation is approved by the Ad-
minstraton, has been laid On the table IN
the U. S. Senate. Mr.. Sumner, although
he said it was "silly," thought it was no
worse than Gen. Sherman's.
The N. Y. Tribune makes, editorally, the
proposition that Capt. Wilkes should put
Messrs. Mason and Slidell on bard of the
Trent, and then capture the vessel and the
Commissioners with all on board, and bring
them into port for adjudication.
Rev. Mr. Mines Chaplain of Maine re-
gimeut. captured at Bull Run, has been ex-
changed for Rev. Mr.. North, Chaplain in
Virginia regiment, captured at Harper's
Ferry.
The U. S. Steamer Reliance ran the block
ade Of the Potomac on the evening of the
18th. She was fred upon by all the bate
ries as she went on-with what result is not
yet known.
A resolution was unanimously passed by
the U. s. House of Representatives yester-
day, thanking Col. Mulligan, his officers
and men, for their defence of Lexington.
California editors apprehend considerable
difficulty in working the telegraph to the
Eastern States in the winter months. One
paper says: "Thus far the storms in the
mountains have seriously retarded commu-
nication with the East"
A dreadful fire broke out December I'd. at
the Napoleon docks, Antwerp. The Belgian
sugar refinery and the St. Felix bonding
warehouses were burned down. The esti-
mated loss is 5000, 900 francs.
The expected new evidence against Chas.
w. JeAerds, on trial in New York for the
murder of John w. Mathews, was yesterday
developed. Mr.. w. Walton, tbs brother of
John Walton, who was shot by the same
man who few minutes afterward shot Ma
thews, testified that few weeks ago Jefferds
confessed the murder to him in all its de-
tails. so far as it regarded Walton.
The New York Post publishes editorially
an article on the proposition of the Mary
land Legislature, to raise by loan the States
quota Of the direct tax. The Post regards
this mode of procedure as likely to produce
mischievous effects by bringing individual
States into the money market in competition
with the government.
The Northern papers contain story
about the taking away from the Presidents
House, in Washington, by Mr.. Buchanan, of
certain pictures presented by the Prince Of
Wales. The story is not likely.
Brig. Gen. Stones appointment is not yet
confirmed; and Massachusetts and Pennsyl-
vania Senators declare that it shall not be
until after full understanding of the respon.
sibility for the Balls Bluff defeat.
A U. S. government steamer went ashore
at Barnegat on the 18th.
The Oriental Queen from New York, for
Queenstown, loaded with grain, capsized off
Nantucket on the 10th. Captain and crew
saved. So.
Garibald has appeared in Turin, and en-
tered the Chamber of Deputies when the
Roman and Neapolitan questions were un-
der debate. 8
The trial of Charles NJ Jefferds in New
York, indicted for the murder of John W.
Mathews, who was shot on the night of the
Both of June, 1860, 10 irving place, was
commenced yesterday.
The English journals are doing their ut
most to deter the Irish population from emf
grating to the United States.
A committee has been appointed in the
Maryland Senate ito urge upon the u. s.
government plan to prevent the escape of
slaves"
The Queens messenger did not return in
the Africa, but dispatches were sent out
both by the U. S. Government and the Bri-
fish Minister
DIED.