Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-12-25
MISCELLANEOUS DISPATCnEs.

] bN"NN W hNmhhu VI NnC DFltlsn authorities
the surrender of the ospttrs of the Chesa.
peake as pirates under the Ashburton treaty.
To make this demand it was necessary TO
have the names and facts, ,hich were tele-
graphed for. This morning the requisite
aihdaVits have been received and tho de-
mand will be made. The question will bs
then raised as to whether the captors wcr,
pirates and criminals or beligereats
Since the arrest Of the so-caled Chapman
pirates, lately convicted in San Francisco
frequent applications have been made for tn,
pardon of one Of them-Alfred Rubory--b,
John Bright. the well-known English friend
Of America, with the assent Of Senator Con.
ness and Justice Field Of California. Tn,
President has finally consented to pardon
! Rubery who is an English subject.
The Star has the following: Last eveni o 2
the Chief Of the Bureau Of Exchange Of pris.
oners, Gen. Hitchcock, received from Gen
Meredith copy Of letter addressed to him
on the evening OF the ! lth inst, by Robert
/ Ould. the rebel commissioner Of exchange, an
nouncing the determination of the rebel War
I Department to receive no more provisions
from the North for our prisoners in their
hands.
We hear from Fortress Monroe that ale-
cations Of abuse, &c, in reference to the man
ner in which the rebel authorities have car
ried out their pledges on the subject from the
reason why they break up the Arrangement
He promises to deliver faithfully all the sup
plies in question that had been received up
to the time that the letter was received, and
adds that all our prisoners in their hands will
be rationed precisely as they ration their sol
diers in the field. Without doubt the allie.
CATION OF vilhfcaton and Misrepresentation
put forward as the reason for declining to re-
ceive such supplies is mere subterfuge, the
real reason being the presence of the jealousy
Of the people of Richmond.
Gentlemen just arrived from the Army of
the Potomac says that some of our cavalry
still occupy Culpepper, and that our pickets
extend several miles beyond that town. The
position Of our troops remains unchanged.
There are indication of changes with view
TO the greater comfort Of the army
New YORK, Dec. l6.
The Tribune has accounts from prominent
gentlemen of Texas stating, among other in
formation, that it was rumored in the early
part Of October, and probably true. that on
the Colorado river, in Fayette or Bastrop
counties, thirty-four persons had been hanged
-four Americans and thirty Germans-
among them Mr.. Grassenger and old and
respected resident of La Grange-an inoffen-
siye gentleman Of seventy years of age.
The New Orleans Era of the 9th inst, has
accounts Of the capture Of the rebel works at
Pass Covallo, already reported. Report says
large quantity Of cotton is at Victoria, one
of the towns on M.tagords Bay, and within
our reach by the capture of the above works.
IL has AFT fkprp IL 20, Rrru
vile, but could not be got to that place from
scarcity of teams
The Trlbunes Washington dispatch says:
Mr.. Ashley of Ohio will introduce in the
House to-day an important bill, providing, in
accordance with the suggestions of the Presi-
dents message and proclamation, for the es-
tablishment of provisional military govern
ment over the districts Of country in rebellion,
and for authorizing the loyal citizens of such
districts to organize State governments.
The bill confers upon the President the
power to appoint for every district in rebel
lion, military government over the districts
of country in rebellion, and for authorizing
the loyal citizens Of such districts to organize
State governments. The bill also coniers
upon the President power to appoint Mill
Governor for each district in rebellion, who
is to have the civil administration until State
governments can be formed and Senators and
Representatives TO Congress elected.
Wherever the people desire the organization
OF State Governments, the Military Gov |
ernor is to oroer an enrolment of
loyal e,ctors as soon as the number of
the latter will be equal to one tenth Of the
voters at the Presidential election of 1860, /
the Military Governor shall order the cleo
lpn ftf lot In L
authorized to form a State Government, pro-
vided it be not repugnant to the Constitution
of the United States or the Presidents pro-
clamation of January LIST, 1868. and that
slavery be forever abolished and prohibited !
The new Constitution is to be submitted to
the people, and after its adoption Senators
and Representatives to Congress may be .
chosen. All the laws Of the former Consti-
tuiions Of these districts, maxi a distinc-
tion between black and white persons, are
abroga,ed, and any infringement of individual
freedom is To be punished as kidnapping.
SOUTHERN lTEMs.-Mr Foote, in the reb-
ell Senate, expressed the opinion that the
South was bound to recognize negroes who
enlisted st the North as freedmen as prison.
srs OF war, when captured, but not so with
slaves who took up arms.
ne smallpox, which had appeared among
ibe federal prisoners at Richmond, has abated
very much and only one or two cases are re-
ported.
On Wednesday night the bodies Of six de-
leased Federal prisoners were deposited in I
he dead-house Of the hospital to await the
coming Of the undertaken with collins. The
lext morning one Of the bodies was gone, t
md the plank knocEed from the house show
ID the way the ghost went. He had been
playing possum," and was laid out among I
be dead only to get up and run away when :
nobody was looking. 1
A special dispatch to the Herald, dated
Rutedge, Tenn, Dec. IA, have the following:
Between two and three O'Clock this ]
Ifternoon the force of Longstfeet turned out d
md attacked our pursuing column of caval-
y, under Gen. Shscklelord. A line of bat i
lie was formed at Bear Station, on the Cum t
'erland Gap, and the Morristown road, and a (
ight ensued, lasting ill nghtfall, when the Z
ebels had succeeded in driving us about half s
mile. 8
The musketry force was very heavy. Our
oss, so far as | can ascertain, is about IS. {
We have taken some prisoners belonging to
be rebel Gen. Graches brigade The whole n
movement was made with we'll contriyed
,lan to capture Gen. Shacklelord and his |