Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-12-11
Affairs In ana About Washington.


The Washington correspondent of the New YOrl
Herald, writing under date of the Both ult, fur
nishes-the following items: .-....-- re-,
THE REPORT OF THE sECRETRRY OF WAR-HIs PcsI
TON ON THE EMANCIPATION QUESTION PUBLIC AC
TON OF CONGRESS on Tbs sUBJsCT.
The report of the Secretary of war is completed
! 1t is carefully written document, and highly
creditabe to Secretary Cameron. 1t gives q detail
ed view Of the army, showing that we have at the
present time over six hundred thousand troops 10
the services, and points with considerable force TO
the fact, that notwithstanding the immense army
has been raised in short time, that it Is SPLEEN
didly appointed and in fac condition for the field
and what is better, that the position of the people
in very loyal States is to rush to arms in over.
whelming numbers. ID --t --E O.
Secretary Cameron defines his position on the
slavery question. He says distinctly that every
agency employed by the rebels to DESTROY the Fed
eral Government, when it falls il our hands no
matter what 1t would be, would be Immediately
turned against them; these contraband negroes
should be put to work on Notifications, constructs
ing bridges, engaged IS hostlers WagOners horse
shOers, &c. DC, and that they should be paid for
their labor lie is of opinion that under no circu
stances should any slave who belongs to q rebel
master be returned, either before after the war
From the present appearances, q proposition will
be brought before Congress authorizing each com
handing General, as he advances into any rsbel
State to issue proclamation to the people thereof
that after the expiration Of q brief period to be
named, the property of every description. recog
nized such by the laws of the State in which such
proclamation is issued shall be cOntsCated, if the
owner thereof under such State laws does not
within the time mentioned, take the oath of ale
glance TO the Federal Government.
CAPTURE OF TWO sCHooNERs BY TIE REBEL STEAMER
PAGE.
Capt. Mister, CT the oyster sloop Broom, that es-
capped the clutches of the Page, on Thursday night
confirms the statement of Capt. Paul. He says he
saw the Page take two schoOners into Quantico
creek One was loaded with coal and the other
with lumber for the government. The coal vessel
had white bottom and he suppOses her to be the
John Francis, of Baltimore. There was four yes
sells opposite the batteries that night besides the
Delaware. One Of them, an oyster boat, has not
yet come up.
THE POLICY CT TIE GOVERNMENT RESPECTING COLsT
AND LAKE OFFENCES.
This correspondence between the Cabinet and
the authorities of the State of Maine sets forth the
policy of the administration on the subject of the
coast and lake defences, and the wll be made
the subject of special message to Compress Hence
the Secretary of State has declined the request of
the Governors Of other States for its publication
1t is understood, however, that the Federal Gov
ernment will accept the loan Of money from the !
loyal States for the defence of each State the money
to be expended by the Federal Government aud
reimb arsed within a reasonable time, for which !
Uofefhmen0 OOhus VI tiuiS are " DC Lssuee.
REPoRTFD CAPTURE OF CARGO OF WAR MUNITIONS FROM
CANADA.
Authentic information has been received here |
that small, light draft Canadian steamer has been
seized off the coast of Maine by a United States
revenue cutter. The seamer had on board about |
TO- 600 Springfield maskets, clothing, boots, bank /
paper, and munitions of war She was cleared /
rom Canada and the cargo was consigned to par
les in the Southern States. II
- SEIZURE OF ARMS.
An order has been issued and addressed to gov
,rnment officers and agents now authorized to in
peet and purchase arms in Boston, New Y ork snd !
to seize all fit for use, with in
ructions not to exceed the price Of $50 each for
cal Enclfsh Enfield riffs