The Portland daily press., 1862-12-09
FROM WASHINGTON.
The Proceedings Of Congress.
Testimony in the Porter and Mcdowell
Trials.
Correspondence between MIR. Seward and
MIR. Dayton.
WASHINGTON, Dec. s.

WASHINGTON, Dec. s.
Gen. Churchill, of the U. S. A., late Inspec-
tor General died here last night, aged eighty
years.
The bill introduced in the House by Mr..
Van Wyck, proposed a monthly addition of 50
to privates and So to farriers, blacksmiths,
musicians and non-commissioned officers. His
bill for immediate compensation for clothing
lost in the service, provides for the payment of
the same on the next pay roll and making pro-
vision also for soldiers in hospitals and those
discharged.
Mr.. Hickman's bill provides for enlisting
100 regiments of negroes, to be uniformed in
distinctive manner, and enlisting them for
years or less, privates to receive $3.50 per
month, officers the same as in
the regular army, commissioned officers either
white or colored, to be graduates of colleges
and receive the pay of the same rank in the
regular army. The bill also provides for line
of steamers to run between New York and
Liberia, touching at Norfolk and Port Royal,
TO carry such freed men as desire to migrate.
1t also gives the proceeds oil conilscated rebel
property to carry out the provisions of the bill.
Mr.. Stevens provides that the Secretary OF
the Treasury redeem the 500 bonds and all
7-30 bonds which have been issued since
March, and cancel them also to redeem all
tender notes held as loan, bearing interest,and
repeating the law authorizing each loan or de-
post; also repeating the law requiring the
payment of interest on bonds in gold, and
issuing the 500 bonds; the Secretary of the
Treasury to issue one billion dollars in bonds
and notes similar to those authorized by the
act of Feb. 18th, with interest payable semi
annually in lawful money, and the principal
payable in gold or silver in 20 years; also au-
thorizing the issue of 800 million legal tender
notes; also authorizing the Secretary to ex-
change bonds authorized by this act, instead of
redeeming, on terms most advantageous; also
taxing all banks, savings institutions, so per
cent on the circulation exceeding one half
their capital, but this not to go into effect until
80 days after the passage of the act; also au-
thorizing the Secretary TO sell any portion of
the billion hereby authorized, at such prices as
he is able TO obtain up TO the 4th of Noyem-
Der.
Since the first of September the following
vessels have been captured off Wilmington:
One steamer, two barks, two brigs and fifteen
schooners.
Brig. Gems. Mott and Prince have been or
dered to report to headquarters of the army
of the Potomac.
Capt. Mitchell, son of the late Gen. Mitchell,
has resigned.
In the court martial case of Gen. Porter,
Capt. Drake testified that Gen. Porter moved
at four o'clock on the morning of the 9th at
a moderate speed, and that Gen. Porter and
staff used great exertions TO get out of the
way the wagons impeding the march of his
troops.
In the Mcdowell trial, Mr.. Bella Clark of
Fredericksburg testified that Gen. Mcdowell
released lawyer named Little, who has been
passing to and fro on horseback within the
Union lines playing the part of a spy for the
rebels.
In the correspondence between Seward and
Mr.. Dayton, our Minister TO France, the for
mer says France has the right TO make war
against Mexico, but we have the right to insist
that France shall not raise or maintain an anti
republican or anti American government there.
Mr.. Dayton refers to the Presidents proclama-
ton Of September, stating that it would not
be surprising If spasmodic effort was made
for intervention, based on perversion of the
motives prompting the proclamation and its
probable consequence.
Mr.. Seward in another letter, expresses the
surprise of the President. that the idea of the
recognition of the rebels is still lingering in
European capitals, and trusts the energies our
government and people have put forth
within the last three months, will satisfy Eu-
rope that we are not only a considerable, but
practical and persevering people.
We have not only invoked no foreign aid or
sympathy, but have warned foreign nations
frankly and sought them not TO interfere. We
are data-Inined 10 he sovereign and 4rsa--M Va
indulge in no menaces and no defiance. We
abide patiently the course Of events. We have
not been misled by any semblance Of imparti-
ality or Of neutrality which unfriendly pro-
ceedings have put on. When any government
shall incline to new and more uniriendly at
titude, we shall revise with care our existing
relations towards that power, and shall act in
the emergency as becomes people who new
er yet faltered in duty to themselves, while
endeavoring to improve the condition Of the
human race.