Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-12-10
sC8t Nlenq5is appeal.


g Ht at'ofHt4 -GtHttH.- tA -hpfNHah hptIs
-Esr1pe. qf q Candidate for For HrHaHg-
Ns,-s from the Aoay If che Pot0mae-Gar.
Magnder.
RICHMOND, December =. I-5I.
-Four legislative bodies are sitting at once in
Richmond-thc Provisional Congress of the
Confederate States, and the Senate aud House of
Delegates, and the Convention of Virginia. Of
course, the streets are uncomfortably full of peo-
pie, the hotels denseIy packed up to the attic
rooms, and hacks, oysters, postage stamps and
brandy cocktails in great demand. Very posi-
bly,, nay, most probably, the gambling houses
are again in full blast, giving their elegant sup
pers at midnight, notwithstanding the recent at
tempt Of the mayor to shut them up. The only
effect produced by the partial visitation of the
police, soms weeks ago, has been TO cause great
er vigilance ON tha pa, OF .he ~doorkeepers and
make the prop6ct0rs draw the heavy window
curtains closer together.
The General Assembly Of Virginia, under the
present constitution, holds its sessions bienni-
ally, unless called together specially by tie
Governor for some important crisis Of affairs,
Last wintert there was such an extra called ses
sion. This winterih two bodies meet accord
ing 10 rule. IN tine Senate this morning there
was no quorum. In the House a new Speaker
was elected, Col. Kemper, OF Orange, and the
message Of Gov. Letcler was read. This latter
documunt is an admirable one, and places the
Governor above all suspicion (such as has been
entertained Of him In certain quarters of luke
warmness IN tie cause of southern iHdepeul-
ence. lie speaks ont boldly ia favor of an aE-
eressive policy, declares that the Susquehannah
is a better fighting ius than the Potomac, and
urges the importance Of striking a blow for the
IsHsf Of oppressed and heartsnddoned Mary
land.
One Of the most important questions that viii
come up for the consideration OF the Legislature
Of Virginia, is that Of providing for troops to
supply the place of the twelve months volunteer,
whose term OF enlistment will expire in the month
Of June, 1862. 1t is understood that the con-
vention has already taken this matter in hand,
and has been greatly psTplcxel with it. They
vii be compelled TO turn it over TO the General
Assembly. Though the convention has been in
secret session while the militia bin has been be-
fore the body, we hear that there is no little dn-
fculfy among the members in agreeing upon a
plan for the maintenance Of the Virginia army
in the field. An opinion of tho Attoucy-General
Of the State, submitted to the Executive, solves
the problem by declaring that the troops, organ
lied under the ordinance Of the convention of
isst spring, and mastered into service for a Pc
rod Of twelve months, are really held TO service, Z
according TO the old militia law Of the Common
Wealth, for four georS' II his opinion is upheld
and sought TO be enforced, the result win be mos;
disastrous to the morale of our army. Tie i'm
mense majority of the rank and fe win consider
that a grave fraud has been practeel upon them
deseui0ns viii occur by whole regiments, and
the authority Of the State Executive vsll be set
at naught. Far better viii it be to discharge the
entire body Of Virginia volunteers now in the
field at the expiration Of the twelve months, and
depend upon re-enlslnents Tor a new army. The
pride and patriotism Of Yirginia's Sons VIII never
suffer her ancient banner to fan, for the want Of
supporters, in the face Of the enemy.
Northern papers as late as the 9th Of Novsm
Der have been received here. The Yankees are
sdn rejoicing over the capture Of MessEs. Mason
and Sidell, and the few hundred bales Of cotton
they have taken on the South Carolina coast
They threaten TO hang Mason and slidel FIR
Col C%orcoran, and they talk as if The produce of
three or four cotton plantations would prevent
mankind from going shirtless for several hundred
years, whereas, unless England can get d large
supply very speedily, the world viii soon be
without a shirt throughout the temperate zone.
The Herald publishes a long list Of officers TO
ever so many regiments from New England. i
Is absolutely ridiculous 70 read over the names OF
the colonies, observation-disclosures majors, cap
tains and Heutenants of a regiment from Counec-
ticut. It is q regular succession of T@erences,
Dennises, Patricks, Tedjeys, Michaels and phe
lims-su the O'Rourkes, O'Flahertys and Nc
Mshoneys that ever emigrated from County
Cork or County Wicklow to the blessed State of
onions and wooden nutmegs. are represented
among them. The Times end Tribune. though
full OF delicious abuse OF each other, unite In de-
claTing that The Confederate government is cz
oeedingly shaky, while there is not a better speci
men Of a stable government on earth than that
at Washington. Certainly, when we remember
that Lincoln has put his cavalry regiments in
some of the finest Of the public buildings ia the
Federal capital, it must be considered a staJh
government, indeed The very head Of It recalls
the equine consul Of Calgula, though with lon
ger ears
man arrived in Richmond to-day who was
arrested by the Yankee police in Baltimore, for
having carried letters and papers between Ma
yland and Richmond. and escorted % the very
entrance Of Fort McHeury, but there broke
away from his guard and made good his escape
He brought some important information for the
Departments.
Thenews from Fairfax to-day IS that the Yam
kee advance has been indefinitely postponed ON
account Of the iuclemencyof the weather" Tie
pickets have ceased 10 fre on each other. which
IS good. but they talk with each other, which Is
bad. A d~eserter, who came over into our linse
last week and was brought down 20 this city, de-
clares that Mcclellan twice ordered O forward .
movement in November, but that the men would
nos bulge. How much truth there may De IN
This, / am not prepared to say.
Gen. Msgruder is in town from the peninsula.
- DIXIE.
II tnoH. htNfW-DtN A'tf ~ pc t"YtfetHih " J.
he Command Of re Forres IN Mss0ur-Gsn.
Heah has Sgceess0r-IHirersal Surprise aad
discomfort here "a Coasegueaec-i NarI In
aogemeat "a Hamgton Roads-Tdl EJpoo,d
Banie 5a de Potomac.
RICHMOND, December 3, 1861.
We had a fall Of snow last night, light aud
hathery, coming down as softly as rose leaves
upon a lawn. The fakes at first melted as they
reached the earth, but a. the night advanced the
cold deepened. and this morning. payements
and housetops were whftene3 alike. and gIisten-
ed in the beautiful sunlight with the b~riIiancy
Of 8 colder cline. The landscape, looking to-
ward tire hills around The city, was as wintry as
was ever seen from the State House at Boston.
The snow speedily vanished, however, under
our southern sun, and the temperature, though
frosty still, i BOW delightful Probably upon
The mountains they have a foot or two of snow,
and our brave troops are beginning 20 dud the
winter a more formidable enemy than the
Yankees.
Very great surprise, and no little Indignation
va expressed to-day ia consequence Of the an
nouueenent in tue EI0miner, Of this morning
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