The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1864-01-14

and deserters. There were swarms Of fugitives from
his ranks, and his army was worn out by hard SER
vice, and were dispirited. The retreating rebels were
suffering intensely for clothing aud food. Lougstreet
abandoned his siege train Of six guns, after burning
the gun carriages. The guns fell into our hands.
Two Of our heavy trains were met between Cumber-
land Gap and Knoxville with supplies for the army.
There were 30 days supplies at Knoxville when the
rebels retreated. The people around Knoxville are
destitute the rebel army have consumed everything
eatable. Longstreet's army is represented as being
demoralized to an extraordinary degree by hardships
aud assertions while IN Eastern Tennessee.
WAsHINGTOS, December l5th.-Telegrams have
been received here, last evening, from Knoxville. up
TO yesterday morning. General Foster had assumed
command Of the troops lately under Burnside. and
the latter has departed for Cincinnati. All IL quiet
in the vicinity of Knoxville.
PHILADELPHIA. December 22-By a gentleman
WHO left Richmond on the 10Th, we have the follow
ing later inform alton. He says: Richmond papers
of the 10Th have dispatches from Bristol, Tennessee,
stating that Longstreet, with his army, was advanc-
ing, and no doubt n severe battle would he fought in
the vicinity of Jonesboro. Tennessee. Reinforcements
from Col Jackson's and Gen. Sam Johnson's com-
mands were going to Longstreet.
Congress
Met on the 9TH Of December, and was organized
by the election OF Schuyler Colfax as Speaker. The
Presidents's Message will be found in the California
Weeklies.
No Presidential Message has ever been more anx-
iously looked for, or more carefully and critically
read. Its principal feature is the earnest desire to
prove that the Administrator desires nothing so
much rs the reconciliation aud reconstruction Of the
discovered States. While this admirable spirit is so
manifest, it is evident that the President is prepared
for n long continued resistance on the part of a large
portion Of the South. Regarding the two vital points
of interest, Slavery, and the reconstruction Of the
Union, the President considers the Emancipation
Procla nation as an established fact and holds that
the Proclamation has liberated all the slaves within
territory which ii embraces, and all future action
must be based on that supposition. The President
does not and will not adopt any policy which fails to
give the slave a vested right in himself. Appended
to the Message is n Proclamation offering n tull and
free pardon to all beneath a certain rank in the army
and navy, and to all civilians who have not been
leaders of the rebellion, who may be wearied, or
disheartened, or disguised with the struggle.
The principal leaders of the rebellion are exempted
from the pardon, but The prospects of a somewhat less
generous clemency are extended even to them.
WASHINGTON. Dec. Ion the 18th, over 1000
persons bad availed themselves of the Presidents
Proclamation in Norfolk, by taking the oath of
allegiance.
The twenty million appropriation bill TO pay boun-
ties, which passed in the House yesterday, has also
passed in the Senate to day. This bill provides, that
no bounties, except such as are provided for by law,
shall be paid to any persons enlisted after January
8. That the money paid by drafted persons under
the Enrolment Act shall be paid out on acquisitions, !
as in case OF other public moneys and the money as
paid shall be kept in the Treasury rs a special deposit
applicable only to the expenses of draft, and for the
procuration of substitutes, and for these purposes it
Is hereby appropriated.
The sentiment of Senators respecting the three
hundred dollar exemption has wholly changed.
They will strike out the exemption claim, and not
any amount in its place. The feeling is gen.
that the army must be filed up and the war
prosecuted to the end.