The New York herald., 1862-12-23
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON, Dec. %, lSG2
-Hs EXAMINATION IN REFERENCE TO THE FREDE-
RICKsBuRG BATTLE.
fhe Committee on the Conduct OF the War examined
tay Genera Haleck. General Meigs General Woodbury.
o tho Engineers and General Haupt OF the TraHsporta
ton Department upon matters ccnEscted with TIE battle
OF Fredercksbnrg Thoir testimony Is in the main
Smatory of that of Gen Burnside and the commanders
s the three grand divsions. Gen Baeck stated to the
committee, nterrogatores that General Nc
Coan mad advised the preparation Of the bridges in ad
vance. The bridges form ard however for
Gear they would captured before the army reached that
point The testimony OF General Burnside and his gene
will, when public make the Army OF the Poto
the admiration OF tie world The report of COM
niittee will be placed before the Senate morrow the
evidence being oil in.
INCONSISTENCY OF THE ABoLrTIoNIsTs.
While the abolitionsts here pushing the omancipa
faou the thing which Is 70 strike a
Sstsi blow upon the South, they arc a. the
time asking benevolent societies Of the North TO
secevc such contrabands in camp hero untitled
Sor labor by tender old age nfrmes. If few
contrabands that already here make much trouble
and expense, how viii it be when three osour millions
are TO be emancpsted
11IB BILL UNDERWRITING The PRESIDENT AND OTHERS
FOR IRREGULAR ARRESTS.
The protest against the passage Of the bill indemnify
the President aud others for certain the
suspension Of the privilege Of tho habeas corpus &C.
drawn by representative Pendletou, aud those who
signed it had voted against the bill.
rHE HOUSE EMANCIPATION BILL.
The bill agreed upon by the House select Committee
Emancipation substantially that recently introduced by
representative Noe OF Missouri, for facilitating emaa
paon that state ard approprating $50 900 600
the purpose.
CONFIRMATION OF SECRETARY SMITH As UNITED
STATES JUDGE.
The Senate has confirmed tho poninatien OF Caleb p.
sah ior District Judge of the District Court Of Indiana
No nomination hns yet made supply the vacancy
ooeasioncd in the Department the Secretary tie
Interior
BELGIAN SENTIMENT ON OUR CIVIL WAR.
Among the recent arrivals hero is the Hon Aaron
Goodrich, Secretary OF tho United States Legation at
BRUSSELS. He brings interesting account foreign
opinion Of American affairs the little Court King
Leopold which Is regarded the OF intelligence
and etiquette In Eurooe, the AmeTcan Secretary OF
state Mr. Seward, is highly esteemed for the ssgaciy
and ability he has manifested in the conduct OF the state
correspondence with the representatives OF European
Powers. His management Of anairs than anything
else inspired respect and confidence abroad the
pou entertained by the Representatives OF various
European governments at the Belgian capital that the
'remcut Of Mr. Seward from the Cabinet OF Mr. Lincoln
would be the signal for the withdrawal all confidence
in The success Unionlsts thcresent domestic
srusglc would precipato foreign intervention and
attempted mediation.
Mr. Goodrich expresses the opinion that the people Of
ctea. Britain and Eurole regard the slavery question
abe United States merely collateral ISSUE OF
condary importance. Notwithstanding the agitation Of
che negro question thero days past they heartily
sck Of negro emancipation, and the opinion is almost
everywhere openly expressed that if the efforts of the
federal government allowed degenerate simply
contest in bcha OF the negro, instead the
OF the Union and the authority Of the government
the seeded states, whatever little sympathy
s,sts the part of foreign nations the federal gov
ernmc1t win be completely destroyed.
TEE PORTER COURT MkRTfiL.
me Porter Court Martial held brief session to-day.
The following witnesses examined in reference TO
she condition Of the road from TO Bristol
fisn aud the character the night OF August IT.
toioac Henjamn r. Smith, Lieutenant Edward Brooks and
Cart W. B. G. Duryea. Here the Cour. gave notice tha
they concluded the examination Of witnesses on tho
part se the government. No witnesses for the defence
cug accessabie The request Of General Porter tho
tourt adjourned over till Wednesday.
GENERAL BUTLEs's supkRcgssIoS.
ar Grnin Of Charlestown Mass arrived here u. day
" voa.e join the stan Of General Butler, New Or.
leans. He discovered upon bis arrival that General
Butter had been superseded by General Banks.
rHE WORTHLESS VESSELS or rHn BANKS HrrEplrIoy
communication was sent the Senate to-day srob,
The War Department In 10 q resolution Of
inquiry relative ~ cbartering certain worthless
shipe for the Banks expedition, in which IL s
stated that tho huls Of tho steamers Thames
aud Niagara were inspected by oEcis desig.
natcd by Commodore Van Brunt, the engines by cx.
bief Engncor Hasws designated for that purpose Ivy
GENERAL Banks. Accompanying is nspuant protest
sgsusi the condemnation Of the Thames by her owners
I,vcrcLt Storrs TaylOr x Uubbeli.
COURT MARTIAL or col. GRAHAM.
col Samuel Graham, Fifth New York Volunteer Ar
siery s trial here by martial upon tho charge
,f receiving thousand dollars from sutcr an ap
continent. the penalty for which, under tho rogrla
zion made by the last session, dismissal from the
vIcc The testimony has all been given but decision
rendered Tho fact Of recoivng the money proved
and the defete is that the Colonel used IL paying the
expenses OF raising the regiment Col Murphy, Tenth
New Jersey regiment President, and MAJOR Gaines,
II Ohio, Judge Advocate Of the court martial
THE CONGRESSIONAL HOLIDAY ADJOURNMENT
rhe Senate will doubtless agree tho joint resolution
assed in the House for adjournment the sst
DAY In January.
ARRIVAL OF WOUNDED SOLDIERS.
The steamers Zephyr and Planter brought up from
Aaa cysek yesterday about fovr hundred Of the wound