The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-08-27
From rs to 80 Lives Lost
Cassius Clay to be Assigned a Com
mand in Kentucky.
Later from New Orleans.
lmpressment of Negroes.

New YORK, Aug. 22--After alluding
the suilrrings of the people and the
gallantry Of the troops, JEFF Davis, in his
message, says:
The vast army which threatened the
Capital of the Coniederacy has been de-
leated and driven from the lines Of in
vestmeni, and the enemy, repeatedly foil
ed in his efforts for its capture is now
81 eking to raise new armies, on scale
such as modern history Toes not record,
TO eff ct that subjugation of the South 80
often proclaimed as on the eve Of accom-.
plshment
Davis then charges the United States
| with rapine wantOn destruction Of pri-
vate property, murder Of captives, &c,
| speass Of the confscalion bill as afro
ciOus. While the monied obligations of
the Confederate Government are forged
| ny citizens of the United States, and at
| least two Generals of the United States
are engaged in exciting seryile insurrec-
zion, annlher has been found of instincts
so brutal as ia invlre the violence of his
soldiers against the women Of captured
! city. He mentions Gen, Butler suisse
| quently Davis hen says:
"1o inquiries made of the commander
| in-chief OF the armies of the United
! States, VIII th-r the atrocious conduct Of
/ some Of their military commandments met
! the sanction of that Government, an an.
swer had been evaded on the pretext that
the inquiry was insulting, and no method
remains for the suppression Of these enor
mites but such retributive justice as IL
may be found possible to execute. Re-
ialiation in kind for many Of them is i'm
! practicable, and | have had occasion to
remark, in a former message that under
no excess of provocAtiOn could our noble
hearted defenders be driven 10 wreak
vengeance on unarmed men or on women
and children.
But stern and exemplary punishment
eau and must Toe melted out to these mar
derers and frlUns, who, disgracing the
procession of arms, eek TO make of pub
iic--ihe occasion for the commission of
the most monstrous crimes. Deeply as
we regret the character Of tho contest
into which we are about TO be forced, we
must accept it as an alternative which
recent manifestations give US little hope
can be avoided. The evaporation of
failure has aroused the worst passions of
our enemies, and a large portion Of their
peOplc--even of their clergymen--is now
engaged in urging an exciting populace
to the extremes of ferocily: and our aims
must be TO yindicate our rights and
maintain our existence by employing
against our foe every energy and every
resource a. our disposal.
Mr.. Davis recommends further legisla-
ton 10 make the CONSUMPTION universal ;
al 0 the issue Of additional treasury
notes; also sone legislation for control
ling military transportation. lie says
the very large Increase Of forces, recently
called Into the field, by the President OF
the United States, may render il neces-
sray, hereafter, TO extend the provisions
of the conscript law so as 10 embrace
persons between the ages of SO and 40
years.
The vigor and efficiency Of our present
force and their condition, and the skill
and ability which distingu shes their
leaders, inspire the belief that 20 further
enrolment will be necessary; but wise
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS that ii q necessity
should be suddenly developed during
the cess Of Congress, requiring an in
creased force for our defence, means
should exist for calling such into the
field without awaiting the fe-asscmbling
Of the Legislative department of the Gov
ernment.
The rest OF The message is unimport-
ant
In the rebel House Of Representatives
Foote, Of Tennessee, offered a bill for re-
taliatory purposes IL recius that tho
enemy refuse 10 treat our partizan SOLE
diers as prisoners, and have also punish
ed innocent private ci liens for their acts.
II provides that an officer who may have
ordered such atrocities be- put TO death il
captured. An equal number of prison.
ers, officers a. be preferred, taken from
the enemy, 60 suffer the fate inflicted on
our captured soldiers or citizens. Also
a bill 10 punish negroes ia arms. 1t pro.
vides that Federal armies, incongruOusly
comps d of whites and blacks, shall not
be held o the privileges OF war or 10 be
/ taken prisoners OF such as may be
captured, the negroes shall be returned TO
/ their masters or sold publicly and their
commanders publicly hung on shot as may
/ DO most convenient
lie also offered bill TO rotaliate Cor the
seizure of citizens by the enemy II
provides that, Of tho prisoners held by
us, a number equal 10 that of the citizens
seized, shall be held az hostages for their
safety aud subjected TO like treatment
ANY officer ciyi or military, concerned
In their seizur, shall be imprisoned dur
Ing the war.
AN the bills were referred 10 the Milf
iary Committee.
Mr. Toote offered o bin to provide for