Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-12-09
washington News and Gossip.
The following items extracted from the
Washington correspondence Of Eastern
journals, will be found interesting:

The documents from the State Department, |
to Congress to-day, disclose the important |
fact that our Government now occupies the |
same position that it held in reference to |
foreign Governments at the beginning of the |
and that though the United States |
early offered to accept the Paris declaration |
in reference to privateering, both England !
and France desired to make an exception in
favor of the JEFF Davis ConfederRcy, to which
the Government has refused to yield, leaving
the United States free from any obligation TO
accept the Paris declaration, while the few
rebel privateeTs are now fugitive on the high
seas, or are lying idle in Southern harboTs.
A resume Of the documents shows the follow
ing to be our relations with foreign nations
England entertains or at least expresses,
no sympathy for u.s. but rather the reverse.
France has not been cordial, but has been
less offensive than England.
Austria has been friendly, and from the
outset has declared that she would not trecog.
nize the rebel Confederacy.
Prussia and all the German States have
been equally cordial.
Russia has been friendly, but anxious for
the war to end.
Sweden and Norway have been friendly
from the beginning.
Belgium is undecided, but passive.
Holland is disposed TO follow the lead of
England at a respectful distance.
Italy is full of warm sympathy for our
Government and for freedom.
Spain, though not aggressive, has an evil
dent leaning toward the jeff. Davis Repub-
lie.
Denmark is friendly.
The Pope, though he announces that his
Government is not of this world, but that he
is concerned with spiritual things yet if he
were to express an opinion he, as a good
Christian, will always be on the side of law
and order.
NO NECESSITY FOR ARMING THE SLAVES.
1t tisthought very strange by the public
that few Congressman should so eagerly
press the policy of 'arming the slaves" when
the Government has never yet been able to
arm with suitable guns the white men that
are in the field, and when the Secretary of
War is compelled to decline from day to day
regiments after regiments of white volun-
teers that are rendered for the war. Butt
objects can be had in view by this eagerness
to get black superDumeraries enlsted-con-
tracts for more guns, and sutlerships to feed
at Government expense the idle contra
band" army.
UNIFORMS ON HAND.
Uniforms sufficient to supply the army for
at least six months are now on hand or con-
tracted for. Before more are made it is
probable that a Board of Officers will be
convened to consider the propriety of
changing the pattern.
THE COMMISSIONERS ON THE FREMONT CON-
TRACTS
The Commission now sitting in St Louis
on the Fremont contracts in the Western
Department, have passed on large amount
of claims, in many cases stripping them of
their excessive profits and ordering fair
price to be paid. 1t is understood that the
Government has taken steps to pay promptly
large amounts of such audited claims.
THR SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE.
Vice-President Hsmliu has appointed SEN
ators Fessenden and Trumbull, Regents of
the Smithsonian Institute, to fill the vacan-
cies oCcasoned by the death of Senator
Douglas and the treason of Mason.
THE CAPTURE OF MASON AND sLIpELL.
The personal friends of Secretary Seward
are confident that the remark made by him
in his speech on Tuesday evening, in re
sponse to a serepade, that the country would
within ten days be electrified by more well
come news than they have yet heard, refer
red to the probability that within that time
the entire acquiescence of the British Gov
ernment in the taking of Mason and Slidell
would be received. 1t is believed that Lord
Lyons has intimated to Mr.. Seward that his
neutrality on board their vessels and every
where else.
Ex.MINIsTER FAULKNER TO BE RELEASED ON
PAROLE.
Charles r. Faulkner, of Virginia, will be
released from confinement in Fort Warren
on his parole. The letter has probably al
ready been mailed for that purpose. He will
proceed Immediately South, and procure q
Of
successful in that errsnd, he has pledged
himself to return to custody in thirty days
GENERAL FREMONT.
1t seems that General Fremont left st
Louis in violation OF orders. He was di.
rected to remain in that city to await the
further directions of the President.
GENERAL ROBERT PATTERSON.
1t is the intention of,the Hon. John Sher
man TO call for all the papers and CORE
spondence relating to the movements of Gen
eral Patterson, and especially to his much
talked. of withdrawal from Charlestown Il
Harper's Ferry.
PROBABLE EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS.
1t having transpired that the treatment @
numbers of the prisoners in the hands of tn
rebels is most strocious, the Government
beginning TO consider seriously the propriet
OF an exchange. The details OF the suffering
of some Union officers, recently made knowI
are absolutely loathsome; and as no principl
would be sacrificed, some step seems neceI
sary for their relief When the rebellion hs
been crushed out, it will be easy to srrel
and punish the ringleaders, including thos
who have been imprisoned. AS there are in
stanceson record ofOur having exchanged pri
oneTs with even Algerine pirates, why shoul
it not be done for the advantage of brave an
loyal men, who are guilty of no other Grim
than that Of faithfully defending their couI
try2
PREPARATIONS FOR WINTER.
General McCalls division improved I'll
fine weather yesterday in building huts fl
winter quarters. They 60 in bodies into IL
/ forests, fell large trees, and split them In
planks, with which they are building vel
comfortable cabins. The forests yesterda
were deprived of many fine oak tree, value
highly, no doubt, by the owners of the soil
THE REMOVAL OF THE SOUTHERN CONGRESS.
II is certain that a bill was presented
! Congress to remove the seat of Governme
from Richmond. The opposition which VI
manifested against ii, however, defeated Il
project
IMPORTANT TO NUsTERINa OFFICERS.
, Mastering officers who have not alreaC
done so are requested 10 send the rolls {
which they have mustered regiments to Il
} Adjutant- Generals Office, Washington.
3 MORE VOLUNTEERS TO BH CALLED FOR.
A proposition for enlisting two hundr
thousand additional volunteers will be intr
. duced in Congress, and 1t is understood