, 1863-12-22
Important News From
Richmond and other
Points.
From Arkansas---The Rebels
Repulsed at Fort Gibson
Little Rock
Threatened.
THE UNION FEELING IN AR
KANSAS,


WASHINGTON, Dec. p, 1868.
In accordance with the recommendation Of
Gov. Dennison and Secretary Chase, alluded
of tho leading Radical Alssourians, General
RoEecrans was to-day assigned to the COM
mand of the Department Of Missouri, vice
Schofe1d relieved.
Kansas is erected into separate depart
mcnt and Gen. Curtis is assigned to Its COM
mand, aud it is understood that Gen. Scho-
field goes to Baltimore, though this does not
get seem to be wholly established. The tri-
umph of the Radicals, and Of the Loyal
League, is thus complete. The President has
been for some time convinced OF Gen. Cur
tis' Innocence Of the alleged cotton specula~
lions, and has thus taken the first opportun~
ity to gire him new command.
Gen. Butler has been formally assigned to
the duty Of exchanging prisoners, vice Mere
duh, relieved This does not interfere with
the command of his department. Exchange,
1t ia now said, will be resumed In few days
The first negro was exchanged q day or two
ago. t..
It is pretty certain that the distinction Of
clasees, in the conscription bill, will be abol-
ished before Congress take It's srecess for the
HOLIDAYS, so that the draft, which comes
carly in January, may fall not simply upon
men under SIS, but upon the whole able
bodied ndult male population Of the country.
Gen. Schenck to-day offered such a bull In the
House. It was unanimously approved By
tho Military Committee, and the Senate Com
mittec is also understood to favor it. The
House will resist an attempt to pass further
amendments to the consumption law,
until after the recess, on the ground
that the bill Is imperfect now, and any party
attempts to patch it are only likely to make
matters worse. Clergymen are pretty Ger
tain to be exempted when the amendments
are made, il the $500 clause is repealed, 9th
crwise not Statistics hare been laid before
the Committee showing TINT onc-sfxth Of
those exempted for the last draft get off for
being only sons Of widow, OF men worth
great fortunes, whose widowed mothers hap
pened to be living with them, were exempt
cd under it: This will bo carefully guarded
aginst In the contemplated amendments.
Astrong movement is likely to be made
this season to consolidate the regulars and
volunteers.
Representations made to the Military Com.
mittces In both Houses, from all parts Of the
country, seem about equally divided On the
subject Of retaining or repealing the $500
clause
The statements that have crept into the
papers that Senator. Sumner fully endorses
and adopts al1 the views in the Presidents
message arc unwarranted. He has, Of course,
expressed no dissatisfaction, but he could
| hardly be expected to give up so promptly
| views Of his OVID, either in conflict with the
| Presidents, OF supposed to be SO.
McClurg bill for payment Of the Mo. home
! Guards came up to-day from the Ways and
| Means Committee, and Mr.. Blow succeeded
againzt the opposition Of the party Demo
! Gratis, in getting it made the special order fol
! tomorrow.
The Democrats continue to display statt
| Of DISCRIMINATION 80 remarkable that th'
New York World, tonight, reads them .
sharp editorial lecture about it. The vote OF
| Clar Smiths resolutions, the other day, spill
| them fairly in two, and to-day an effort Wa
made to prevent the payment Of the twent.
million appropriation for. premiums tt
negroes, Prominent Democrats 1otet
against the attempt, and for treating negroe
| like other soldiers.
The movement attempted to be inauguFa
ted through the proposed action. Of tue Hous
Administration caucus against Mr.. Blair
seems likely. to fail. The chairman Of til
caucus is unwilling to call 1t together, an'
members seem to have prudent recollection
OF 4 simila1 demonstration once made aggains
another Cabinet officer, in the other wing q
the capital. Some members still insist o.
The meeting Of the. Caucus.
WAsu1SG1os, Dec. 21.-CoEgrcss Will ae
iourn the middle of the week for the holidays
The draft will be postponed for twenty days
4 curious and Interesting discovery ha
iust been made In the Department Of STATE
bearing upon the boundary line between tn
State Of Minnesota and the British Province:
The upshot OF the mattcE js, that Hinnesot
has biz lump Of land which she did nc
know belonged to her, and that she has fn
command Of the Lake Of the Woods.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 21.-A spccla( to the !
. 7, Etry4ing Ib.t, says: Copsrsss will adjour
by the middle of the week for the holiday
and the draft viii be postponed twenty day
The Russian fleet leave for Fortress MonTe
: the present week. Mr Lincoln will visit tt
Admiral In the flagship, on Tuesday {
> |. "Wednesday. Inc douhe h1AllAIy Noanlnale'
, will not consider the $500 communication unit
: after the holidays
NEw YonK, Dec. 81, 1sos.-A special to Il
:, n. Y.Ts,4ss says:
AThc following Senators and Mcmbc
: compose the committee appointed by Il
!. Democratic caucus to confer with the Natio
q ii Democratic Committee, TO fix the time 81
place for holding tho National Convention
. ). G. Allen, III. Fernando Wood, N. T.;
q B, Steele. N. j.: VIM. II. Miller, md ]
= Moreyt n. T.; Garrett Davis, hy; sen2t
NIhc following were appointed to 6
range the order Of business for tue Democr
= tic members, who orc to report to a cane
On Monday next: Dawson. Penn. Brook
n. T.; Pendleton, Ohio; Mallory, Ky.; R
il | hinson, Ill
:. cd ito purpose 10 repeal tho 500 c1cmpti
! ainuza enfist mcuts have suhktantia1fY cnas