The Local news. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-01-17

answer to letter Of Gen. Williams, Adiu-
tant General of the U. 8. army of the Po-
tomsc, relating to Washington relics found
at Arlington, says that they will be deposi-
ted at the Smithsonian Institution for 3afe.
keeping. They CONSIST of articles ofCAina,
presettsd toGeh Nv al hpgton by the sEocie-
y Of Cineipnatiby q6eers of theITssuch
army. audsby M vayshu! There III also
at Arlington Gen. Washington's tea table,
tent end articles of furniture, with guam
tity Of papefsof tbsf C4stis ffspilS, Inslud-.
ing, it is supposed, those of Washington,
Lafayette. dc. Gen, Mcdowell, in writing
to Gen. Williams concerning these memen.
toes, says that when he8took command Of
the army Of the Potomac, he found Arling-
ton in public possession. but he himself did
not occupy it until compelled to do SO re-
Gently, on account Of an injury to bis per-
son. Mrs. Lee had notified him months
since that the relics were at Arlington, but
the old servants now inform Gen. Mcdowell
that 90 numerous are the visitors, and so
much exposed are the premises by changes
Of troops, &C., that they desire that he shall
relieve them Of the possession. For the
same reasons the latter has brought the mat.
ter to the attention Of the government, stat
ing that one or two small articles are alres-
dy missing. and the result is that they are
hereafter to be preserved securely at tho
Smithsonian. s4t a. -
A letter from PoolesviIle sa-s that the Pc.
tomac is frozen, and that the pickets of the
two armies are skating smicably. the prac-
tice Of shooting pickets having been BY com.
mon consent abandoned.
1t is said that opposition 10 made to the
confirmation of Nj. Cameron as Minister to
Russia. by Senator Trumbull. s.
The Washington Star says that the N. Y.
Tribune is correct in interpreting the ap.
pointment of Edwin M. Stanton to the
Secretaryship Of War, as involving the
initiation of vigorous effort on the part Of
the Government to diseonnect the prosecu-
ton Of the war from suspicion of the pur-
pose OF making that the mere pretense of
working out the thirty years schemes of the
aboliti onists.
A correspondent of the Washington Star,
writing from Alexandra, says The LIQUOR
nuisance among the soldiers in and around
Alexandra is dreadful, and is increasing
There are only two methods of managing
This matter-either throw the business of
importing it into this place open to all
Or forbid it to all. Our own citizens,
who need u little for their usual trade.
find much difficulty in getting it, while
certain new comers, connected with army
I Ulcers OF favorites at Washington can
get it with ease, at the rate Of hundred
boxes day. The writer says the fault lies
n Washington.
The U. 5. government contract Investigate
ng Committee are now engaged upon the
subject Of alleged frauds in Washing ton and
It's vicinity. They discovered that the same
horses have been twice sold to the govern
nent. superintendent and inspectors have
been bribed to certify horses, and sometimes
elling them to private individuals. Thew
'lso discover that the enormous amounts ,
paid by the War Department for transpor. ,
alton induce strong competition among rail.
Dad companies, 90 that many colonies in
be West moving their regiments to the East .
aave received from each $4,000 bonus; that
ome suffers are making $1,000 profits per
month; that nearly all the suffers south of
he Potomac sell liquor, with the knowledge
# the officers, and that it is Struggled in :
'oxes marked government and hospital ,
torres" or packed in barrels and marked {
beef" "}4's
Gen. Lame, Of Kansas, has been declared
0 DO entitled to bis seat in the U. s. Senate.
y vote Of "a to l6. 1t is said that be will :.
hortly leave Washington to take command :.
division Of the army. a@ :
1t cannot be sscertained that there is any t
ruth in the current reports relative to ad- Il
itional changes in the Cabinet. . t
Gen. John G. Breckenridge is reported to
ave been seen at Bowling Green, Kentucky, a
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