The Portland daily press., 1862-12-22
BY TELEGRAPH.
TO THE ~
Portland Daily Press.
FROM WASHINGTON.
The Mcdowell Court of Inquiry,
TESTIMONY OF GEN. sIoEL.
The Resignation of Secretaries Seward and
Chase.
Proceedings OF the Senatorial Caucus.
Senator Fessenden Mentioned for
Secretary Of State.
The President Willing to Modify his
Proclamation.
he Resignation of Secretaries Seward and
Chase.
Proceedings OF the Senatorial Caucus.
Senator Fessenden Mentioned for
Secretary Of State.
The President Willing to Modify his
Proclamation.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 81.
In the Mcdowell Court of Inquiry yester-
day, Major Mcdowell, a brother of the Cen
eral, was the first witness sworn. He was dis
missed after replying to lew important ques-
tions Major Gen. Franz Sigel was next
sworn. He was examined in regard to his
(SigeFs) movement whilst cooperating with
Gen. Mcdowell in the Virginia campaign, of
which he gave detailed account. In answer
to an interrogatory, whether he (Sigel had
ever found reason to impute treachery in ef-
fciency or want of courage to Gen. Mellow
ell, he replied that he was about to testify in a
matter affecting the standing of a general
officer, and he would frankly state he lSigel)
might have been mistaken in his opinion with
respect to the first charge. He had no proof
OF Gen. Mcdowell having held lawful commu-
nication with the enemy. In regard to the
second charge, he believed Gen. Mcdowell
had evinced incompeteney as a corps COM
mander, to support which opinion, Gen. Sigel
cited several instances. He (Sigel believed
the junction of Longstreets and Jacksons
forces was not sufficiently obstructed by Gen.
Mcdowell. and that he (McDowelD might
easily have kept possession of Thoroughfare
Gap. In the course of his testimony, Gen.
Sigel referred to a remark made by Gen. Me-
Dowell to one of his (Sigel's staff officers, but
Gen. Mcdowell objected TO its publicity, on
the ground of similar evidence having been
ruled as nadmissible. The court was here
cleared, and after a secret session of half an
hour, was reopened, without any decision upon
the matter having been arrived at. The ex-
animation of Gen. Sgel was continued. He
replied, that having sent to Gen. Mcdowell on
certain day for orders to march, that officer
informed the Aid-de-Camp that Gen. Sgel
should fight his own corps. The Aid-de-Camp
was Capt. Dahlgren. As Capt. Dahlgren
was present, the Court said if Gen. Mcdowell
considered further Interrogation of Gen. Sigel
prejudicial to his cause, the other witness,
Capt Dahlgren, might be called Gen. Nc
Dowell did not so prefer, but insisted on the
manifest impropiiety Of Capt. Dahlgren re-
manning longer in the room, as he was to be
examined on the same point. The Court then
requested Capt Dahlgren TO leave the room,
and be ready to appear when required. The
remainder of Gen. Sigefs testimony was sub
stantlally the same as the foregoing
1t is ascertained that the Senators who met
in caucus last week were pledged to keep
their proceedings secret, excepting to the
President, and this they did with more success
than usually attends such deliberations. The
Secretary of State, however, soon heard of the
proceedings, andpromptly rendered his resig-
nation on Friday night. The committee from
the caucus again visited the President, and re-
manned with him and all the members of the
Cabinet, Mr.. Seward alone being absent, for
more than four hours. The next day. by noon,
Secretary Chase sent i'm his resignation, not
merely as matter of form, but in good faith.
1t is not known that there was any objections
TO him on the part of the caucus.
The Representatives were in no manner con-
suited regarding the propriety of the action of
the Senators, but no complaints are made,
there being a general acquiescence in their
proceedings. The resolutions adopted recon-
mend partial reconstruction of the Cabinet,
which several Senators interpret to mean an
ultimate entire change Of programme.
Reports are current, but which cannot now
be verified, that all of the members of the
Cabinet have resigned. However this NAV
be, 1t is believed that none of them will in the
least embarrass the Executive in the choice of
successors.
While some of the Senators insist that all
of them shall be undoubted others are con-
tent TO leave the entire matter in the hands of
the President, so that he may act as he thinks
best to serve the country in its present circum-
stances.
Senators Fessenden of Maine and ID. s.
Dickinson of New York are the most promi-
nent among others named for the Secretary of
State, aud the belief is entertained that the
former will soon be rendered the appointment
Speaker Grow will probably be offered
Secretaryship. Many OF his friends seem to
regard this us nearly certain.
A member OF the Border State Committee,
appointed by the recent caucus, states that in
an Interview the committee had with the
President yesterday, he informed them that as
to his emancipation proclamation he had acted
from the belief that it would effect good re-
suits, but if he could be convinced to the con-
trary, he would modify his position upon that
subject, his purpose being to do the best Ne
could under all the circumstances which sur
rounded him.