The Portland daily press., 1862-12-12
FROM WASHINGTON.
Proceedings Of Congress.
The Trial of Gems. Mcdowell and Porter.

WASHINGTON, Dec. IL.
Senator Browning to-day introduced a bill
amendatory of the act establishing the terri
torial government of Utah. 1t was referred
to the Judiciary Committee, and provides that
justices of the peace, judges of the probate
courts, and all the civil officers of townships
and counties shall be elected by popular
vote. 1t requires the enrolling and organic
ing of the militia, and annuls certain acts of
the Legislative Assembly inconsistent with
this act. The design is to remove several
causes of irritation and to restore the United
States Courts to their original jurisdiction,
and TO facilitate the administration of justice.
Mr.. NOEL of Missouri has prepared a bill,
which he will introduce in the House, to sub
init the propositions of President Lincoln to
the State of Missouri, that upon the adoption
by that State of system for the immediate
adjustment of slavery therein, to take effect
on or before the first day of Jan. 1864, the
United States will provide for the compensa-
ton to loyal owners of the slaves therein to
the extent of S20,O00,000 in United States
bonds, redeemable in thirty years. and win re-
move to some place out of the United States
and COLOMBO such of the emancipated slaves
as shall elect to leave the State.
The President transmitted to the Senate
message in answer to the resolution making
enquiries about the Minnesota Indian troubles
After alluding to the various appeals which
had been made to him in behalf of the con-
demned, as well as against them, he says:
Anxious to not act withso much clemency
as to encourage another outbreak on the one
hand, nor with so much severity as to be real
cruelty on the other, caused a careful exami-
nation of the records of the trials to be
made, first ordering the execution of such
as had been proved guilty of violating females.
Contrary to my expectations only two of
this class were found. | then directed
further examination, and a classification of
all who were proved to have participated in
the massacres as distinguished from participa-
tors in battles. This class numbered 40 and
includes two convicted of female Violation
One of this number is strongly recommended
by the commission which tried him, for COM
mutation to 10 years imprisonment. have
ordered the other 80 to be executed on Friday
the 10Th inst. The order was dispatched from
here on Monday, the Sth inst, by messenger
to Gen. Sibley, and a copy of which order is
herewith transmitted, marked d. An abstract
of the evidence as to the 40 is herewith en-
closed, marked L. To avoid the immense
amount of copying, l lay before the Senate
the original manuscripts of the records of the
trials as received by me. This is as full and
co mplete a response to the resolution as it is
in my power to make.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN"
In the Mcdowell case to-day the examina-
ton of Gen. Mcclellan was continued. The
following were some of the important points
elected, that the troops for the defence OF
Washington, were from his immediate COM
mand, amounting to about 10000 independent
of McDowel's corps.
Gen. Mcclellan, in answer to certain ques-
tions of the court, gave his opinion that Jack
sons movement against Gen. Banks, was to
prevent reintorcements being sent to the army
of the Potomac, aud he expressed that opinion
to the President in a telegram within day of
the time he mcclellan received information
of Jackson's movements. If Gen. Mcdowell
had moved direct upon Hanover Court House
instead of in the direction of Front Royal,
Jackson would have rapidly retraced his steps
to Join the main rebel army at Richmond
With a strong army in the vicinity of Rich
mond and threatening it, Mcclellan did not
think the rebels would have detached suffi-
cient force to seriously endanger the safety of
Washington.
In the case of Gen. Porter, Lieut.. Col Mer-
rill, late of Pope's staff was examined. He
gave no new evidence except that he was the
person who denounced Gen. Porter to Gen.
Pope as traitor.
A letter from the Surgeon General disclaims
all responsibility for the deplorable state of
things in the convalescent camps, and says the
Secretary of War has by the recommendation
OF the medical department, ordered it TO be
broken up Immediately.
Lieuts. Conrad, Fitz Hayley and Mullen
have been ordered to the Iroquois. Lieut.
Canthany has been ordered to the steamer
Columbia. Acting Master j. Il. Giddngs has
been ordered to the Denver.