Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-12-26

DO1N1S Ot HE EDEhATE CONGRESS-
We have copy of the Richmond Enquirer of
Tuesday, December e2d, from which we gather
the following of interest:
A dispatch from East Tennessee, dated Bris-
tol, December 81, says:
"Oficers from the front state that our
forces are moving forward in the direction
of Knoxville. The county between Beans
Station and Morristown has been cleared of
the enemy. Only 300 prisoners were captured
in the engagement at Beams Station as the men
stopped to pillage the wagon train, which was
loaded with coffee, sugar, canvassed hams and
shoes. But for this, many more might have
been captured.
Reports from below state that Imboden and
Echols have surrounded the Salem raiders
ana the entire party will probably be captured
The enemy have burned their wagons and
destroyed their artillery to prevent their fall
ing into our hands. The railroad between this
point and Lynchburg will be N running order
by Saturday.
The Enquirer claims that the food pros no ots
IN Virginia are as favorable as could be desired.
and, from comparison with the CONSUMPTION
OF the past two years, assumes that on the lat
OF February, 1861, there will be in the counties
of the State Of Virginia within the Confederate
lines 100000 horses, 40O,0O CATTLE 100000 hogs.
and $4,000 sheep. The cattle and hogs, the
Enquirer thinks, would give 10000, 600 pounds
OF meat, not counting the sheep. But these re-
sources are in the hands Of the people, and not
of the Government and the former are there.
fore urged to contribute literally. But not.
withdrawing this big boast OF large resources
we notice by the Richmond market report that
bacon is 1926 per pound, beef rs to IS cents,
and pork 1925. - -E..ra
+I>o rorS alo nv. :, j..
bill was passed granting passports to me NJ
bers OF the rebel Congress, in order to secure
them safe passage throughout the Confeder-
acy, but not to the rebel army or navy
In the Confederate House of Repras Ell ta.iyes
Mr.. Miles, Of South Carolina, introd ucsd a bill
to continue in the service all troops now III the
Confederate States AIRY. The bill provides
that all musicians, privates, and non. commis-
sioaed officers, whether volunteers Or con.
scripts. shall be retained in the service during
the existence of war with the United States,
and the law contemplates allowing troops SO
retained to maintain their present organization
of companies, battalions, squadrons, and bat.
teries, untess the exigencies Of the service shall
demand a change. = GF..gE
Mr.. Read, OF Kentucky, moved to amend bv
proyiso that the troopS from Kentucky shall
be permitted to connect themselves with the
cavalry arm of the service. The resolution
and amendment were referred. 80 sE.asgzt
A resolution was adopted instructing the
Committee on Judiciary to contiscate the notes
of all banks in the Confederate States held by
alien enemies q 81 - H s
A resolution to place in the field all parties
who have furnished substitutes, was intro
dnced and laid over informally G5 a4H
Subsequently Mr.. Hilton, from the Commit.
tee on Military Affairs, introduced q bill which
sets forth in the preamble that the Confederate
army has been defrauded Of many good sol.
diers by the substitute lay, and enacts, Ist,
That whenever a substitute has deserted or
shall hereafter desert the party furnishing
the substitute shall be Obliged to enter the SER
vice. Cd. The obligation Of the principal shall I
revive also upon the establishment of the fact
that the substitute when furnished was unfit
for soldier either by physical or mental in.
capacity And Sd, in all cases where man
who is a substitute would be liable to ENROLL
ment for n ilitary service under existing or
future laws, If he were not already IN the
army. the principal is declared to be subject
to such enrolment. The bill was placed on
the calendar for consideration next day.. =
a bill was passed amending the act relating
to impressments. The bill provides for the re-
peal of the act anthorizing the commissioners
appointed by the President and the several
State governments TO tx the prices upon i'm
pressed properly. Itrequires the property I'M.
pressed to be paid for at the time Of the
.rnent, the 5valuation 70 be fixed by loyal and
dieinterested citizens Of the city or county. The
im,,ressinr officer and the party whose property
Il taken have both the right to appeal to tae
comniasloners. Contractors are forbidden to
In rreesproperty. 81 80 sis5f
The richmond Enqsiser OF Dec 10Th, treating
upon tAeexchange Of prisoners, argues that the
whole question now In dispute between the
scummjssione Is the eatmsnt o. negruss. Thes
gxqGisev comedies "that the law or Con zress
for delivering all negroes and their whitl OF
ficers captured in arms TO State authorities for