Washington telegraph., 1863-12-30
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

CoSGREssioNAL.-Rich Dec. S-Ths
reading of the Presi ients Message in the
Senate and House, was 'lsleneI to with pro-
found attention. The members sat al their
desks with the printed copy and looked over
word tor wvri a. il was read by tue CLERK
with evident approval Of INST Pnrtions, Pc
caily that llting to tile fnances, auI tl.
Presidents solution of tle appareAt cnn.litl-
tiunal difficulties in the WY III Couglrs. Lew
lug "A direct tax before taking the ccasus. VI
the people.
In the House, that part of the Mo.siz. r.
iatIng 70 the finance AMI the report of tle Sc
! retary of the Treasury, were referred u 4
JOINT special coinni tee Of both IJrs,-, e.
consist Of aIne members oa tie part vi Ia.
dOuse.
Richmond, Dee o-Thg-cport 0 v. tAe Sec
retary Of war is long. though highly iApur-
tnnt The document briefly refers Principally
20 the operations OF the army la tie sev ,ral
depart ments IL says tine campaign la Nus
sIssippl Is certainly disastrous and it l. lii
cut 10 resist the impression that tlips. di-ns-
tiers were hot inevitable, and THAT a court u
inquiry and investigation into the Whole ca :
paign, which mt AZ Atlanta in september, ia
consequence Oi the vicinity of the enemy de-
m ndiug tie pr seuce Of the witnesses ana
judges. at other points, has been su,peldei
temporarily. IL i expected soon ~ r.a=zeul-
bic
Tue deficiency Of men and provisions, raikcr
than the reyerses of battle caused the witt!
irawal Of the army from Middle Tennessee.
lie ailulcs TO tescrtion and stIaggliag aII
abseEtees, and says OF the effective force Of
tlic army, that lttlc over halt. Or nearly
two thirds OF the men on the rolls are absent.
IL recommends the repeal Of the -uisttutc
aud exemption laws, and makes proyi siOu fer
AL those having substitutes immediately
to tc required 10 the field, ana says that III,
privileges which Congress srant-l T. pat ia
substitutes, can be regularly anI constitutions
a'ly abrogated by the same powc. It says
that no compact was entered into between tie
government and persons furnishing substitutes
~ alleged, int it was only privilege the GOV
eTnment accorded. Instead Of comp aiming OF
tbs aorcgat ion. they should be grateful Tor
what was hereio're allowed them. II re-
cnmnends the ahri lgcment Of exemptions and
the con~criptiun Of all Its 10th w TIC max
ing Of details for the wants OF society a home
IL says that three years men when thai- time
expires canno; be finally discharged but
should be retained, allowing thrm tn choose
az" existin. company under the pryscni or
sinizatIon in the same arm OF the service
Ii recomme' Is the consolidation of compa-
nies and regiments reduced brow \ certain
comp' p'emn'. In onclusion Il pay 4 glowing
Ibute TO TIE herOism, endurance and uufaI-
tering devotion Of our soldiers. Tie lament
ed dead have yielded up their lives. sacrificed
upon the tar Of liberty. He closes by saying
our very rcverses show n united dctermina-
ton 70 endure everything for Independence,
and must convince the enemy of tie futiiity
of his efforts to subduc u.
kichlnoud Dee .0.-The CONGRESS had .,
perfect shower Of projected bills anc. resolu-
tions N all kinds Of subjects, bnt no business
has been transacted in either House. ,xcent
the pa: sage by the Senate Of bill TO rtpeal
the substitute law
Until the members get off the nostruas
which each seems to have brought 40 regular
work can be accomplished.
Senator johnson OF Arkansas introduced 4
bill to limit the term of oficc Of the member,
Of the cabinet to tTo wears, when they mi.rht
be eligible, but should be rc-appo.nted aul
confirmed by the Senate H. supported his
proposition IN speech of some length, stating
that what the country needs is a good
government and good officers.
The House was flooded with bills and reso-
iutions on the currency, taxes, i1prcssments,
arbitrary seizures by military authorities,
frauds by quIrtermasters anI cDmmiss.ries.
and to prohibit the Issue of Treasury Notes
after the lst oi January.
The most of these were appropriately re-.
feIrci without discussion. r
the house evinced disposition to wade
through the mess and get 10 guar work
GES. MonGAN.-A Louisville despatch of the
llth says that Gen. John Morgan was seen on
the morning OF Tuesday (9th) near Burksvi L.,
gong in tho direction OF Cumberland River. IL
IS believed that he crossed in the evening.
Only two Of the officers who escaped iron tie
Penitentiary were with him. The Federals
would rather have heard that the ..deyii had
broken loose" The Governor OF Ohio writes to
the warden of the prison that he was s.LrepIy
and raortifeds to hear II Morgan's
escape.