, 1861-12-17
SCARE AT NEW ORLEANS.
THE SUMTER AND IR0QUoIs


l.
Especial Dispatch to tho Chicago Tribune.1
WAsH1sGrof, December 16, 1861.
Mr. Wilson's bill for the abolition of slavery
in the District Of Columbia provides for the
Immediate emancipation Of all s1ayes in the
District. Slave masters must, within ninety
days, present their claims to three Cotnn1is-
sioners, residents Of Washington, appointed
BY the President, who are to receive $2,09Q
each, and who shall decide upon such claims
and appraisc the value Of the slaves, III no
case to exceed $500 apiece. The Commission
crs are required, within nine months, to make
report, which is to be deemed full and con-
elusive in all respects, to the Secretary Of the
Treasury, who will pay tue amounts adjudged
due to each claimant
The Investigating Committees report,
which will be made tomorrow, may indirect
ly censure Secretary Wel1es for allowing his
brother-in-law (Gco. D. Morgan) to make
nlncty-fTc thousand dollars in purchasing
vessels for the Navy Department.
Mr.. Faulkner, who started this afternoon
for Richmond, takes 4 hundred dollars, srut
by Hon. Schuyler Colfax to aIr. Ely, for our
ceiycd nothing from their Northern friends
A1r. Faulkner SAYS he las indirectly received
information from Richmond which leads him
TO doubt whether Atr. Ely will be released in
exchange for himself. Tic difficulty is under
stood to be technical objections fo giving up
= prisoner Of war, as they consider Ely to be-,
in return for Il political prisoncrlikc Faulkner.
It is hoped that remedy has been devised by
which Ely's release is assured. Should it not
be, Faulkner promises to return within thirty
days from kis departure from Fort Warren,
and again be-feted and be-turkescd by Boston
aunkies.-
In the diplomatic body this is regarded as
grave 1uenleat, in view Of Eusland's atti-.
1udc. It is feared that she may demand the
return Of Mason and S}idcl so pcremptorily
rs to preclude negotiation, aud lead to iu1me-
diate hostilities. The Nashville is, however,
6omc Offset to the Trent. TIC Southern em-
issaries abroad layc, according to English
gentlemen just arrived, made most lavish
promises to Europe.
Several Congressman from New England
went down thu river to Budd's Ferry, on Sat
urday- AS they we're landing from small
boats, the rch::5s opened fire, but hit nothing.
The Conway-Foukc difficulty stands thus ::
Mr. Conway wished to know whether tho word
"falsehood,' IN Foukc's remarks, as reported
in tho Globe on Friday, intended to be person.
ally applicable to him. Mr. Fouke replied in
long, rambling speech, describing the battle
of Belmont, but not making a direct answer
to the question Ar. Conway then said he
bad given the gentleman the amplcst op-
portunity to remove the offensive i1s,-
lutation, but Fouke not having ayai1cd him
self Of the generosity, he Conway submitted
whether he was net seeking personal quarrel
without cause, and whether such conduct was
not that Of 4 con1aon blackguard and scoun-
drcl. MT. Fouke replied that Conway was a
disgrace to the House and the country; aud
considerable sensation has been created in
town by the affair." Mr. Conway will neither
seek further quarrel nor avoid one. uc has
submitted the case to Gen. jim. Lauc, who
holds Conway not bound to pursue the mat
ter beyond ,its present status. As tothe battle
| Of Belmont, Conway referred to it in the first
| Instance accidentally, on the strength of news
| paper reports that it was 4 Federal defeat
Probably The affair will terminate here.
| Officers Of the Minnesota regiment fully
| confirm the statement Of General Gorman's
fogs!ng negroes for attempting to sell Liquor
i'll c;t,np, notwithstanding the sutlcr of the regi
ment WIS in the daily practice Of selling it te
| the soldiers.
Senator Wilson's bill anolishins slavery il
tic District Of Columbia, appropriates one
million dollars to compensate loyal owncrs
II receives the assent Of several members 0
the Cabinet, Including Chase; also, q nu1ncr
GUS high army officers and influential mem
bers of Congress.
! The military committee Of the senat
will report adverse to Mr. Wilkinson
bill abolsl,ing the distinction between
the regular and volunteer forces, o.
the ground that its effect would be to max
the whole army regulars whereas our forn
contemplates q small standing army and
large volunteer force. Moreover, the bill i
deemed unconstitutional
The House bill for 20, 600 Kentucky nlilitar
police will probably not pass the Senate.
It is reported tonight that Gen. McDowci
marched ont on toraging expedition, to-day
towards Fairfax, with 5000 men and 10
} wagons. He had some skitmishing, and sui
scqucntly entered Fairfax, finding only a fe,
persons there.
LArER.-1hc advance to Fairfax was q 70
lows: Gen. Wadsworth started ut 2 o'cloc
this morning, with three regiments ofinfantr!
$ He proceeded on the road from Fall S Clurc
$ towards Fairfax Simultaneously an exp
dition Of a few regiments from Fitz job
t Porter's division, with squadron Of Ayerill
:. Pennsylvania cavalry, proceeded By anoths
$ road. They went into Fairfax and found Il
: enemy there. Wadsworth's Brigade got :
5 wagon loads Of forage. Gen. Porter's exp
: dition also took considerable quantity. tt
- only fighting took place at a house where
: secessionist was making signals to the enen
beyond. He {the rebeD was shot at 500 yazt
distance. No casualties OF our side
i Gen. Augar to-day took command OF Il
brigade formerly under Gen. Reyes.