Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-12-07
Indications OF COlfax being
Ahead.
Reported improvement In the
Treatment Of Our Prisoners
at Richmond.
[To the olneInnatI aasetta.I
MAsH1NaroN, Deeember 3

ton.
For the Clerkship the contest wakes
warm, and it is idle to attempt to predict
the result. Mcpherson, Fessenden and
Green Adams hold the best chances be-
tween them, with pretty strong influences
in favor Of esch.
A peremptory sale Of abandoned lands
is to be ordered in the States Of Virginia,
South Carolina, Tennessee and Florida.
The Baltimore emancipstiOnists are
urging the appointment Of Don PiRtt to
the command Of that department, or else
the appointment Of soma Major General to
whom Don Piatt shall be one Of the staff.
General Mssde's last movement has al
ready raised clsmor for his removal, In
and out Of the army. After the President
has finished his Message the question will
be considered. II he should be removed,
no one now appears to stand so good q
chance for the succession as General
Hooker.
General WadsWorth has just returned
from making tour along the Mississippi
inspecting the plantations worked BY free
labor and eolored troops. His reports are
highly favorable as to the condition Of the
Lower Mississippi. There are no guerril-
las. One sugar plantation will net thirty
thousand dollars. The lessees employing
free labor are making money. Consider
ing the suddenness Of the change in social
condition and the fact that necessarily
while ct depot they catch disease and suffer,
the experiment is ss successful IS could
possibly be expected. The negro troops ne
reports very effective. There we're bad
officers in some cases, but the best Of feel
ing exists between them and the whites.
No exception was noticed.
Ex-Governor Pratt, Of Maryland, has
been sent South by General Schenek. He
has been a thOrOugh-going Disunionist
from the start.
Nothing from Meade has been received
by Government since the campaign began.
All is awake with a threatened attack
from Lee. Last night there was report
that he had crossed at Germsnis. The
fact was that the rebels attempted to Cross
in force at Raccoon Ford, but Carter re-
pulsed them. Meade says he is ready Ia
fight on this side.
The Democratic caucus tonight, was
little beyond social e-unioD. About &C
were present, King, Of No., presiding. Nc
border State Copperheads were with them
Members are coming in rapidly.
| The Administration caucus Saturday
night, which is called in this morning
papers, is certain to be fully attended. A
Democratic csucus is called for the same
night.
The Iowa delegation met tonight and
resolved to cast their six votes solid fol
| Colfsx for Speaker and Burlington, oi
Massachusetts, for Clerk. Pennsylvsnia
has resolved to cast her votes for Colfax
Michigan, California, and Maine have re
solved unanimously for Colfsx, but have
made no committals for Clerk. The Ken
lucky delegation is in session tonight
Four members, Brutus Clay, Green Clay
Smith, Lncien Anderson aud VIM. b. Ran
dali, will 20 in to the Administration eau
Gus and will vote for Colfox. An effor
was made to make Mallory q candidate foi
Sneaker. hut is=sis-eiiy tailed. Hlntei
Davis goes into the caucus, SO all the Mis-
souri, radicals, and the Maryland radicals
the Delaware members, and in word al
the border State men, but admitted copper
heads and their allies.
COLUMBUS, Dec. 4.
The Governor received to-day from thC
Ohio military agent at Washington, thI
following letter concerning the treatmen
Of prisoners at Richmond:
| "OHIo STATE MILITARY AeESeY,
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 2.
| DEAR SIR: Since the receipt Of you
telegram of yesterdays date, have hGl
an interview with Major General Hitch
cock, who informed me that the Govern
ment had forwarded large quantities o
clothing and provisions to the Union sol
diers in prison at Richmond, and that b
has justl been informed by General Mere
dith, by telegraph, that he General Mere
dith) had been assured and believed tha
the supplies sent had been delivered to ou
men by the Confederate authorities.
General Meredith writes to Genera
Hitchcock that at the time Mr.. 0uld, (reb
ell Commissioner delivered the ninety-fV
surgeons, he General Msredith) stated t
NJ. 0uld What he was told by the sur
geons, respecting the inhuman trestmen
OF the Federal Prisoners by the suthori
ties ct Richmond. Mr.. Ould denied tbs
the prisoners in their hands received sucl
treatment as was complained Of. Genera
Meredith then invited him to inquire o
the surgeons there preeent and ne (0uld
| accordingly CdllcC OUT LHO OE tuEec OA u
number, and had considerable oonverss
tion with them On the subject, sitter whio
he said to General Meredith, that if h
found such to be the case on his return t
Richmond, he would use his influence t
have the officers in charge of the prison
ers at Richmond removed.
General Meredith nov informed Genera
Hitchcock that he was credibly informe
that the Confederate authorities have Fe
moved the officers complained Of 30 ths
General Hitchcock believes there will b
q decided improvement in the condition {
the Union prisoners In that unfortunst
locality. If any one is dssirous to shi
articles of comfort to friends in prison q
Richmond, not contrsbsnd Of war, b
sending the same, charges paid, to thi
agency, with list Of articles, they will b
forwarded by the Government transport
to City Point.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
las n WFTMORE