Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1862-08-29

Federal Defeat in Kentucky General
Johnson Captured with 800 of his
men.
New YORK, Aug. %.
The Herald has Richn ond papers of the
18th and 10TH The Richmond Ec mine'
of the 18th inst thinks that great battle
was impending between the rebel army on the
Rapidan, and Gen. Pope's forces, at such
time, when their Generals were ready, and
not before and that the battlefield would be
in the vicinity of Culpepper Court House.
The rebel Congress met in Richmond on
the 18th inst, on which occasion jeff. Davis
submitted his annual message.
He leads off in his usual hypocritical style,
and then alludeS to the Federal Government as
robbers, &c. He speaks of, and recommends
retaliation measures, to meet the laws re-
Gently passed by the Federal Government, and
recommends the issue Ct more rebel Treasury
shin -plasters, and alludes to the building Of
war vessels at home and abroad
The message betrays great signs of weak
ness in the rebel Government, for no nation
that has power in its hands ever PIT forth
such arguments as acquiescedin murder sc,
rapne under the name OF retaliation.
After abiding to the offerings Of the pco-
pie and the gallantry Of the troops, he says
the vast army which threa tened the capital of
the Confederacy has been defeated and driv-
en- from the lines of investment and the en-
envy, repeatedly foiled in its efforts for its
capture, is now seeking to raise new armies
4 81
record, to effect the subjugation Of the Sou h,
so often proclaimed as on the eve of accom-
plishment.
Davis then charges US with rapine, waton
destruction of private property, murder OF
captives, &C., and speaks of the contiscation
act as atrocious. While the moned obliga-
tons of the Confederate government are forg-
ed by citizens of the United States, and at
least two Generals of the United States are
engaged in exciting scrvile instruction, an
other has been found of instincts so brutal as
to invite the violence of his soldiery against
the women of a captured city. He mentions
Gen. Butler subsequently.
Davis then says, to inquiries made Of the
coI,mal der in-chef Of the armies of the Uni
ted States, whether the atr0ciGus conduct of
some of their military commandants meet the
sanction of that government, an answer had
been evaded on the preteXt that the inquiry
was insulting, and no method remains for the
suppression of these enornities but such re-
tributive justice as it may be found possible
to execute. Retaliation in kind for many
Of them is impracticable, and have had Oc-
cason to remark in a former message that
under no excess Of provOcation could our no.
BILE hearted defenders be driven to wreak ven
geance on unarmed men or on women and
children; but stern and exemplary punish
ment can and must be meted out to the muir
derers and felons, who, disgracing the profes-
sion of arms, seek to make of public war the
occasion for the commission Of the most mon
strous crimes. Deeply as we regret the char
acter of the contest into which we are about
to be forced, we must accept it as an altcrna-
tive which recent manifestations can give US
little hope can be avoided The evaporation
Of failure has aroused the worst passions of
our enemies, and large portion of their peo-
pie, even of their clergymcn, is now engaged
in urging an excited populace to the extreme
of ferocity, and nothing remains but to vindi-
cate our rights and to preserve our existence
by employing against our foe all our energy
and every resource at our disposal"
Davis recommends to make the conscrip-
ton universal; also, the issue of additional
Treasury notes; also, some legislation for
contracting military transportation. He SAYS
the very large increase Of forces recently call
ed into the field by the President of the Uni
ted States may render it necessary hereafter
to extend the provisions of the conscript law
so as to embrace persons between the ages of
30 and 45 years "The vigrr and efficiency
of our present force, anG their condition, and
the skill and ability which distinguish their
leaders, inspire the belief that no further en-
will be necessary; but wise fore
sight requires that if necessity should be
suddenly developed during the recess of Con-
gress, requiring increased forces for defense
means should exist for calling such force into
the field, without waiting for the re-assem-
bling of the legislative department of the gov
The rest of The message is unimportant.
In the rebel House of Representatives, Mr..
Foote, of Tenn, offered bill for retaliatory
purposes. 1t recites that I" the enemy refuse
to treat our soldiers as prisoners, and have
also punished innocent citizens for their acts. ~
It provides that an officer who may have Or
dered such atrocities be put to death, if cap
tured, and and an equal number of prisoner
officers to be hereafter taken from the enemy.
% suffer the fate inflicted on our captured
soldiers or citizens
Also, a bill to punish negroes in arms. It
provides that Federal armies, anonymously
of white ana black, shall not be
leld to the privileges of war, or to be taken
prisoners. OF such as may be captured, the
negroes shall be returned to their masters or
old. and their commanders publicly hung or
hot, as may be most convenient.
Also, bill to retaliate for the seizure of
itizens by the enemy. 1t provides that of
he prisoners held by us, number equal to
hat of the citizens seized shall be held as hos
ages for their safety, and subjected to like
reatment Any officer, civil or military, con- {
erned in their seizure, shall be imprisoned
uring the war. Sass Af A Nta12 {
All the bills were referred to the military t
s59 g,a .sstH - a
Mr.. Foote offered a bill to provide for rails /
g an additional force of 100000 men. On
is own motion, it was laid on the table, sne a
Also, a bill establishing an export duty of
per cent. on cotton and tobacco. to aid in v
4, mi rv;no locoac of c;t;zopc hv tho anopr n