Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-12-16

and to increase the pay of non-commissio.o,,
officers and privates in the army f1ftv 80
cent. per
The daily hoar of meeting was 6rad -
tive o'clock eu A.
HocsE.-McP herson was elea,ed C,.,l,
ceiving lol votes against go for Ftberidoa H.
was then declared elected and en..ra5 -
the duties of his office. 1pon
ordway of New Hampshire was elec,sd
Sergeant-at Arms. '0cseo
The House reelected Ira Goodman +h
present incumbent, doorkeeper. He receiv-
Gu 70 votes, ~ beIng necessary to a choice.
W. s. King. of Minnesota. was re.aIacto,
postmaster by 104 out of I66 votes cast
Mr. Dawes presented the credentials oe
Messrs Segar, Kitchen and Chandler from
lrglnla, which were referred to the Com
mittee on Elections.
Mr. aShburne, of Illinois, offered n raso-
luton presenting the thanks of Congress to
MAJ. uen- Urant and the officers and soldiers
VINO ~, nave lought under him during the re-
belhon, and providing that the Pras,dan+
cause medal to be struck for Gen Grant -
the name of the people of the United StstaS
lhis was passed unanimously, without yror5
of debate or explanation.
Mr. Cox said he desired to offer a rasoIr
fon respectfully requesting the Presidanr 20
take immediate steps for the exchange oF or
prisoners III the prisons of the South and
that he communicate all correspondenca :;
the Var Department relative to the EXCHANGE
of prisoners. After some discussion the raso-
luton was laid over
Mr.. Arnold gave notice of bills to prohibit
slavery forever in the territory included in
the Presidents emancipation proclamation.
also To repeal so much of the enrolment act
as authorized the discharge of person draft
ed on the payment of $500.
SESATE.-Senator Wilson, of Mass. sub-
mitted a resolution that the committee ON
Military Affairs inquire what legislation is
necessary TO facilitate the payment of back
pay and pensions of deceased soldiers, &c.
Senator Davis, OF Ky, submitted the fol-
lowing;
ResoEred That the refusal Of the rebel autbo-itie
to exchange negro soldiers and their white officers
should not prevent the exchange Of our other sol
ders and officers in rebel prisons on such iustteTs
as will prevent suffering to our brave officers and
soldiers IN the hands of the enemy.
The resolution was laid over.
Senator Sherman called up his resolution
that the Judiciary Committee inquire and re-
port whether Robt. Wilson was still a Senator
from Missouri.
Senator Trumbull moved TO amend the res
olution by declaring that Wilson was not en-
agreed to, and the resolution as amended
was adopted
The Clerk of the House appeared and an
nounced that the House had organized and
appointed a committee TO wait upon the Pres
ldent, with the Senate committee to inform
him that both Houses were ready for business
Senator Wilson, of Massachusetts, gave
notice of a bill 10 increase the bounty for
volunteering, and 10 make an appropriation
for the same.
PROCLAMATION BY THE PRESIDENT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. :.
Reliable information having been received that
the insurgents force ia retreating from East Ten
nessee, under circumstances rendering it probable
that the Union forces cannot be hereafter dsIodged
from that important position, and esteeming this
to be of high National consequence, I recommend
that all loyal people do, receipt this Infor-
nation, assemble at their places of worship, and
render special homage and gratitude to Almighty
God for this great advance of the National cause
tSiSned) ABRAHAM LINCOLN
FROM EAST TENNESSEE.
KNOXVILLE Dec. ;.
\ special to the Tribune says the seige of
knoxville is raised, and Longstreet with his
army is in full retreat towards Virginia 1t
virtually terminated yesterday, when at an
early hour the advance guard Of our rein
IoFceIueHts uauef ueH. SHERMAN arrived. The
enemy, during the last few days. kept up an
active show Of an intention TO prolong the
seige or renew an assault until early this
morning, when reconnaissance sent ont by
Gen. Fcrrero found their works empty.
\ few deserters were brought in, who re-
port that the main body moved off after dark
| last night, leaving the rear guard and pickets
in their rife pits to fall back at , 4. NJ, and
join the remainder, who, they were told,
would form a line Of battle short distance
east of Cincinnati. This ruse was adopted to
prevent their premature abandonment Of their
picket line.
Gen. Shackelford, with his cavalry, is al
ready in pursuit and close upon their rear.
Prisoners and des erters are continually arriy-
ing in squads of 10 to 20.