The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-02-09

Washington, Feb. 8.

WeenlngtOn3 NoU. -
The Senate in Executive session to-day
the nomination of Isaac Stone,
Of Wisconsin, to be United States Consul
1t Singapore.
A. Mcfarland, Of Portsmouth, and 90
veil and favoFably known % clerk in the
Office Of the Secretary Of the Senate, has
been appointed . Commissioner for leas.
ing cotton plantations and taking charge
Of abandoned property. He is to be sta
toned at Vicksburg.
1t appears from official documents that
the commission of Gen. Hitchcock, Of
Dec. 10th, allowed him to confer with
General Butler and designated him Is an
agent to procure an exchange Of soldiers
and officers upon terms not conflicting
with the positions Of the department rela-
tive to colored soldiers, nor surrendering
men without . just equivalent, man Tor
man, officer for officer.
Subsequently he was directed to ex-
change, first, those who had been longest
confined, and to waive for the time the
consideration of the question OF parole
and excess of rebel prisoners in our hands.
He was allowed ALEC TO exchange colored
men in civil employment for men in civil
employment captured by our forces.
On the 18th of Dec. Gen. Butler sent
forward by Asst. Commissioner Milford
5O2 prisoners from Point Lookout, asking
an exchange for similar number, and
leaving in allegiance all existing differen-
ces, with the assurance their prisoners In
our hands were we'll cared for, and sug-
gestione looking to the immediate change
of conyalescent or disabled prisoners.
In Communications Of the same date
he asks for the exchange of Alfred Ben.
gle, Of the Sanitary Commission, con
lined in Castle Thunder, and the where
abouts and condition OF Lieut.. Mason and
private Jno. Woolam, of Ohio regiments,
aud inquiries into the proposition cover
ing the cases of the officers and crews Of
the steamers Emily and Arrow, captured
by the rebels last May.
Commissioner Ould reiterates In note
to Msjor Milford q willingness to ex-
change all prisoners, the excess on ethel
side to be on parole. He says this is the
provision of tue cartel, and We eau accept
nothing less unless this is the distinct
understanding. No equivalent will b
delivered to you for any Confederate Of
ficers and soldiers whom you may here
after bring to City Point.
| In the hope that such Ia the under
sta3dIng l have directed that a greater
number than The total Of your deliver,
shall be sent to you.
In another unicatlon Gen. Hitch
cock is reminded that Gen. Butler is un
der the ban Of oVtlawry, and while hi
government cannot prescfibe what agenu
the United States shall employ, self
respect requires the Confederate govern
ment should refuse to treat with per
son so obnoxious, and that Gen. Butler
agency csnnot, therefore. be recognized
or his person protected BY flag OF truce
Gen. Butler returned the note and sale
in reply to the right Of the declaration o
outiawlng, no threats towards any otticel
or soldier OF the United States can be ad
United or for moment regarded by tn
Government Of the United States, az i
certainly will not be by the persons upol
whom such intimidation is attempted
| lie Informs Robert Ould unless his fal
of truce is respected ali further commu
nication by flag Of truce between then
must cease.
On the 18th of January, Butler write
again asking for an exchange OF the list
OF prisoners and of deaths, and proposing
the making up monthly lists.
The Richmond Enquirer of the 9th
says the Confederate Congress has got il
pet with the newspaper men, aud vii
suspend all papers except such as ar
necessary to do public printing. Their
are now but thirtsfivc papers in the Con
federacy.
Commissioner Ould declares exchang
ed all prisoners heretofore held by ia
Union authorizes, whether officers, so
diers or civilians, received At City Poir
before January LIST, and all officers an
men OF The Vicksburg capture who II
ported for duty at Enterprise, Miss
prior to Nov. IA, 1868.