, 1862-01-16
STATE CONVENTION ---- PROPOSITIONS
AD0PTED-INCREAsE LEG1sLA- ;.
TURE---ANHUAL SESSIONS.



Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Tribunc1
WASHINGTON, January Is, 1862.
Recent rcconnoissanccs and reports from
desertcrs establish the fact that the rcbcls's
position at Cent7eyil1e, where they have taken
up winter quarters, is defended By twenty-six
forts, armed with rilcd and other excellent
guns.
In the Maryland House OF Dele
gates, on Monday, the chairman Of tho
Militia Committee presented a reply
from Coy. Andrew of Mass. to the PROPOSE
tion made by Mary1and, to provide relief for
the families Of the 13th Of april victims lie,
{Goy. Andrcw,) says that he has to set on
foot proper Inquiries rs to these families, and
adds that "thc past cannot indeed be forgot
"ten, but it can be forgiven, and in the good
"proyidence OF God, believe the day is not
1t far distant when the blood that was shed ut
Baltimore by those martyrs to q cause rs
"holy as any for which sword was ever drawn,
"shall be known to have ceneated in eternal
ssunion Of sympathy, affection and nationalI-
"ty the sister States Of Marylaud and Aiassa-
chusctts.''
There were sixteen thousand more bales Of
cotton in Liverpool, Dvc. 2stl, this year, than
last year. This stock will be drawn upon for
the supply of this country.
Assistant Secretary Scott (of the War Office
viii not resign at present Assistant Secre-
tary Fox (of the Navy will return tomorrow
he has been for the last two or thrce days in
New York and PHILADELPHIA, "srsceIng and
expeditIng preparations f,.T poztcr's mortar
nect, which will shortly sail.
Hon. Edwin NJ. Stanton was to-day con-
frmcd lie Secretary Of War by the Senate, in
| two No action was had on CaMcrou's noini-
nation 10 Russia.
| Gen. Mcclellan was before the ssConduet
Of the War Committee to-day, and answered
| questions touching the present condition Of
the army in respect to transportation, subsis-
tence and ability to move.
| Strenuous efforts are making to induce the
President to commute the sentence Of the
slave trader Gorslon, from hanging to life inl.
prisonmcnt.
| The bill introduced by Mr.. Colf,x, from TIL
| Post Office Committee, to-day. prohibits, frou
the 1st Of next April any express or railroad
company, or common carrier Of any descrip
tion, from carrying printed matter otherwise
I than in mails, for hire, sslc OF distribution
unless licensed by the Postmaster General
who may provide suitable labels; the penalt,
for such carriagge, or the unauthorized use Q
| labels, to he one hundred dollars for each OF
| fensq.
Col. Rankin #ith all his lancc7s we're orderet
mustered out Of the service to-day The Gov
ernment retains the equipments.
Cameron has this week transformed twenty
five cavalry regiments into infantry. Hc ha
| mustered several officers out of the service
who have charged expenses for reeruilin!
quartcrs while using bar-rooms and corne
| groceries.
| a Government schooner loaded with lu1nbc
has been cut through by ice snd sunk OF
the lower Potomac.
AT Warrenton and Ccntervillc split lcathc
boots sell from 81 to SIS 4 pair; salt 50 t,
$12 per bushel; tea Sc a pound; bad Hhisk,
81 pint; there is no coffee, soap dry goods
fodder or fences in town or country. There i
also a great scarcity OF thread, needles an,
pins.
1t is true, as tclcgraphed, that Col. Roberts
now Provost Marshal Of Annapolis, will b
Provost Aurshal here when Gen. Andrew Por
ter is called to the field The order was issue,
some days ago ordering Roberts here, to lear
the routine Of business. How soon the chang
will be made depends upon military eontiu
gencics, Gen. Porter will command the rcsu
lars when the army moves.
The report that General Williams succeed
Adjutant~ General Thomas Is at least pre1na
ture. No change has Jet been ordered. Scy
eral officers are Williams's seniors in rank.
The following is the substance Of bill It
ported by the JudiciarF Committee Of til
Senate, to whom was referred Judge Truu1
| bulls bill Of the same purport:-
Section one coniscates to the United States a
properly, real and personal, within jurisdiction
| Of persons who have taken up arms ag1inst th
United States; or given aid or comfort to the pres
ent rebellion.
Section two declares every rebel having a clair
to the service or labor Of any other person, shal
on the commission Of rebelious acts, forfeit sue
claim, and such person become immediately free
and whenever any person claims the service Of an
| person declared free by this act he must not onl
establish the rghtfulness Of his claim but also b,
| OWL lu5dA1}. aAu Au pcFson III Inc army OF nav
shall ever decide the validity Of the claim or Bu1
render the person 10 tho claimant.
Section three makea it the duty Of the P1caidcu
to provide for the transportation and colonizatio
beyond the limits Of the United States OF such pc
cons as may be willing to emigrate,
Section four directs the President to confiscat
rebel property By military power When beyond th
reach Of civil process, and sell the same throug
officers appointed for that purpose.
Section five prcsc1ibcH the duties Of such of
ccre.
Section six authorizes judicial process again,
property itself where owners cannot be reached,
the same manner as now practiced against cont..
band goods under revenue laws.
| Section sesen vests full powers for these purpo
| cs in the District Courts of the United States.
; The speech Of Mr. WadsEortll, of Kentuck,
in the House, to-day, WAS as virulent wit
, treason as anything ever uttered in Congress
IT,. .h1A d. III