Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-12-22

I
arranging it on our part.
The Legislature Of Old Virginia Assem-.
bled st Alexandria and passed an Act, to.
day, providing for the election Of dele.
gates to a Convention, to meet in that city
on the 18Th Of July next, for the purpose
Of altering the Constitution. The object
Of the amendment is to rid the Constitu.
ton Ofs clause prohibiting the Legislature
from sboiishing slavery. If this clause
is stricken out the Legislature can free
counties exempted by the Presidents Pro-
olanation from that institution. Voters
for delegates will be required, when chal-
lenged, to swear fealty to the United
States and to the State Of Virginia as re-
stored at Wheeling, in 1861, and that they
have not given aid or comfort to the rebel
lion.
At the opening of bids for -four to day at
the COmmisssry Department all No. -four
offered at IS 20, and under, was taken.
Richmond papers chronicle the arrival
there Of John Morgan.
Secretary Chase has gone to New York.
II is stated that he means to negotiate
another $50, ,OO0 900 loan.
ILLINOIS TROOPS GOING HOME.
Mr.. Fessenden, Of Illinois, has procured
leave for all Illinois troops in hospitals
here to return home for their recovery. He
has also procured permission for the sth
Illinois cavalry to return home to recruit
SO soon as three -fOurths of the regiment
has agreed to be re-nustered in.
PREsIDENTIAL ITEMS.
The President, to-day, sent letters to
Congress from the Cincinnati, Boston and
New York Freedmen's Society.
The President has signed the bill grant
ing medal to General Grant.
TIE BOUNTY QUESTION.
An interesting debate sprsng up in the
House to-day on the bill to apply 2O,0cO,-
600 for bounties, &c., to soldiers now vol
unteering. Democrats at first opposed it,
Mr.. Brooks leading off. Sohenck. Kelly
and LOvejoy made capital little speeches
for our side. Kelly was particularly happy
and called out hearty applause from the
galleries. Cox tried to interrupt him with
authorities against cOnscription and was
silenced by keen retort that brought
down the galleries. 1t was the liveliest
little passage we have yet had this session.
The bill finally passed, many Of the Demo
Gratis voting for it. The Democrats are
trying to get over on the war
platform.
Captain BOntelle, Of the United States
Coast Survey, writes from Charleston that
the distractions in the barbor there con-
sist of double line of piles across the
channel from Pinckney to the middle
ground. From thence to Fort Johnson
here is an opening Of two hundred feet.
Piles are drivenfn seven fsthoms Of Wa
ter, and can easily be demolished by rams
But The Captain says nothing will he done
until Dahlgren is removed.
The Committee Of Ways and Means
called Commodore Smith, of the COnstruc-
ion Bureau Of the Navy Department. be-
'ore them to-day, to ascertain if the es-
.imaLes of that Depart ment could not be
reduced by giving out vessels on contract
o private builders. The indications are
hat the estimates contained in the Naval
Report will be materially cut down.
A delegation of ship owners and others
rom New York is here for the purpose Of
lrging the President to remove the pre-
tent Secretary of Navy.
A stormy pressure is being made by
,ficers in the field, to have General Nc
Jlellan and other shelved Generals mus.
cred out Of service in order to open the
way to promotion.
General MOrrell succeeds to the COM
nsnd Of General Buford's Cavalry