American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1863-12-16

Chattanooga, without having been proper
ly exchanged.
Iought to state here that, the Govern
ment of the United States would not bag
gle about few men, more or less, if it were
hundreds or even thousands, if the ques-
tion was the relief, and that alone of our
sufferering prisoners in Richmond but
whoever considers the above statement of
facts cannot fail to sec that other questions
and points are involved, which it is not
safe, if it were honorable, for this Govern
ment to overlook.
Itshould be stated also, that an offer
was made to the Rebel agent some days
ago to receive all of the prisoners from
Richmond under solemn pledge that
they should not be allowed to take arms
unless duly exchanged with the consent of
the Rebel authorities, without existing
difficulties on the subject of exchange !;
and that this Government would pledge
itself to both feed and clothe prisoners in
our hands.
This proposition also was rejected, and
the Secretary of War thus greatly restrict
ed in his means of affording immediate re-
lief to our prisoners in Richmond but
they have not been overlooked. God for
bid. The Secretary of War has ordered
both clothing and provisions to be sent
through the Rebel lines to sustain them,
although those supplies, from the necessi-
ty of the ease, have been intrusted to the
honor and humanity of the enemy, whose
agents may or may not permit the sup
plies to be delivered.
Meanwhile it is well for the country to
understand that this Rebellion is to be put
down by organized armies in the the field,
acting upon and destroying organized op-
position to the Government, and no real
progress can be made except in this direc-
ton, to which end the energies of every
loyal man in the country should be dcvo-
ted. The progress already made in sup
pressing the Rebellion may afford the full
est assurance of final success and this end
will appear the more certain when it is
considered that the Corps a. A frique, in
the service of the Government, already
numbers $4,000 brave, athletic men, who
are fighting in support of this Govern
ment, under the guidance of body Of
most earnest and intelligent officers, who
count their lives as subordinate to the
cause they are engaged in.
undertake to assure my countrymen
that the hopes of the most sanguine have
been more than realized, in the facility with
which the Government has brought within
its power of organization the colored pop
ulation of the country, and the system
contains within itself such powers of ex-
pansion that Slavery in the South is newt
ably destined to give way before it, when
this element is seen to work, as it will in
harmony with the organized loyal power Of
the nation di~ected to the preservation Of
republican in ltutions, and the union oi
the States under one General Government
capable of giving protection to the whole
from both domestic disturbance and for
eign invasion"
pas- Summary of Tuesdays news from
Washington
Some surprise is expressed at Fernando
Woods being able to muster fifty-ninc
votes for his resolution for Commissioner,
to go to Richmond and beg for peace. Fifty
nine Democrats thus place themselves or
peace at any terms on the ground, under
Fernando Woods lead.
Gen. Martindale, Military Governor O
the District, family and staff, visited the
Russian feet to-day. They were showr
over the flag ship by the Admiral, and up
on leaving received salute of thirteer
guns.
Gen. Meade demands court of inqui-
ry into the conduct of the recent advance
across the Rapidan and subsequent retreat
Gen. Sedgwick will command in the mean
time, by seniority.
Numerous acts of piracy have beer
| planned, and several of the vessels have
narrowly escaped fate akin to that of tn.
Chesapeake. The pirates still retain pos
session of the remaining engineers ant
fremen, and will still do so until they are
replaced by others. The Chesapeake pir-
ates expect to shield themselves, if captur
ed, by producing theirorders from the Con
federate Government, copy of which wa
handed to Captain Willetts, by them.
/ DISCHARGED SoLDIERs.-The Provos
Marshal General has decided that soldier,
who have received discharge from tn,
army on account of physical disability, may
be received anew under the last call fol