, 1864-02-23
FROM YASUINGTON.

FROM WASHINGTON.
The spirit Duty-The Wood Amend
S IiandsE 's Of Meoisiln1sa, C Iii Se Or 41ore Worae1
Distractions In the Pntomac-Tcrrl-
tory for Afeseans-Slavery on the
From Our Regular Correspondent y
WASHINGTON, Feb. 80, ie6L
TIE SPIRIT DUTY-THE WOOD AMENDMENT
DEFEATED II TIE HOUSE.
As I expected, the Senate amendment to
the Revenue bill, striking out Fernando
Woods amendment, taxing spirits on hand,
was agreed to in the House last evening by
the close vote Of II to 73. This was doubt
less brought about by the great bribery Of
the spirit men-disillers, spcculators, and
others-who we're represented here in strong
force. Among those who changed their votes
from aye to nay on Woods amendment, were
J. C. Allen and John 7. stunrt, of Illinois.
What induced the change in Mr.. Allen, this
deponent saith not In the case of Mr.. Stuort
the change was effected by the pressure Of
distfllcrs residing in Springfield, men Of great
wealth, and who hare great interest In tho
article. Those who reseded from the Wood
amendment were nearly oil Democrats. I
send you Mr.. LovejoY's communication in
opposition to Woods amendment
ANOTHER THUNDER OF INC o1EL1.AN, Or
WORSE.
Gen. Mcclellan appears to be unfortunate
in his criticism Of portions Of the army sery-
ing under him. It will be recollected that he
unjustly censured Casey's Division Of tha
Army Of the Potomac after the battle Of Fair
Oaks, before Richmond: In his late report
| he ia equally unfortunate in his ccnsure OF
| Gen. McCalrs Division, the Pennsylvania
Reserves, which he accuses Of misconduct at
the battle Of Nelson's Farm Tor New Market
Cross Roads), fought June 80, 1863. This &C
Gus ation has called out an elaborate defence.
The reports Of Gen Mccall and his testimo.
nj before the Congressional Committee OF
| tie conduct Of the WAT, supported BY tho re-
ports of the officers Of his division. and alse
the testimony of the rebel officers On tht
field Of battle, arc given in evidence to sho"
that the Pennsylvania Reserves fought OF
that day with the greatest gallantry. It wa:
Lees intention, IN making IN attack upo,
McCatrs Division, to break through th'
Union army, ard cut or Hcintzelman's mi
| FranE1in's corps, which formed the righ
wing. This attempt was leteated by the Re
scrrcs. Says Fitz John Porter: Had no
June s0th, thut lie Of march Of march OF th
Federal army wohld have been cut by th
cnemy Says Gen. Meade: " It was only th
stubborn resistance opposed BY on!
II division {the Pennsylyania Reserved prolonGG
}. ngAthc contest till inter- dAtk, and checking
ill that time the advance Of the enemy, tia
enabled the concentration during the nigh
VI a. .crd ;'' 1t is also: prove
that had cyen Gen. AcCalls dlvislol
men, according to LoDgstrect's own state
mcnt, would have been thrust between til
right and leit wings Of the Federal army
, with disastrous consequences. Longstree
Il himself, it is also said, in conversation with
Union surgeon, att1ibuted~the failure of til
: attempt to the stubborn resistance Of the Ri
!, | ecrycs, and asserted that but for tho checl
: lie would lave captured the whole Union al
my. What will be thought Of Gen McCle
lan's report, which is thus SO 1letly contr'
dicted in roint, BY not only his own Gene
: ais, Tone OF. them his bosom fftend), but
n tho testimony Of the cneiny's generals also
q INSTRUCTIONS IN THE POTOMAC.
;. I notice the TR1uUxE's comments on
statement of tho Washington correspondent
= Ut the Chicago 7t,ncs, {Who by the by is
! myth, 60 fur as this city is concerned) th;
q tho Committee on Ways and Means Of Il
d House has reported bill appropriating $50
4 0c0 for distractions to be placed in tue F.
however, does provide as follows: "For pr
T.. vidipE distractions to be moored In the e
to1pac River, to render the shore batteri'
more efficient for the protection Of Washin
:. ton against maritime attack,- three hundrt
~ 1houssnd dollars" Also: :" For completiu
!, OF. Washington three hundred thousand do
lars" Now, the appropriation OF $500, O.
,f for distractions, are doubtless more q pr
cauticnary measure agalnst foreign inv
:, sion than against my feet the rebe
foreign complication and difficulties Il
:, Potomac rive1 would louctless be ono Of tt
:. first points on which an enemy would max
IL . demonstration, Washington being 1t
prinQtAl point to be menaced. There are n
E. permanent rtifcations, which could kee
n . fleet Of vessels drawing rs much as frol
fifteen to seventeen Of water, from 6teamin
! up to this city. There arc number of cart
q works, however, which have been constrn'
II ted at various points below the city: But
l. is necessary that the river should be also ol
. keep the invading fleet longer time unde
: the fire Of the guns. This IL tho object oftt
e appropriation Of &S00, 600. The other appr'
n oIintion Of the same amount is for compl
r ting and rendering more permanent the pre-
!. | ent Notifications which form Gordon arouu
= tLis city, md which render it impregnab1c
hostile army, ..' y = =. r. -
II TERRITORY FOR AFRICANS. -
In the Ecnate yesterday, Mr.. Lane, OF En-
II eas, called up his bill making an appropri
II tion Of land in Texas for the use Of per4o1
If ofAfr5can descent He argaed at length
70 favor Of it. One Of his positions was that Il
.e cupidity and aYarice Of the whites wou1d Q
II WAYS be too much tor the blAckB, ar
the litter would hnre to gire way To- thet
N Another position was that it would raise Z
- colony on the border Of Mexit
. which would be able to aid eftlcien
= = that republic in It's struggle for libert
&c He did not propose to remove the negroes
, the Government expense. but the TelTttor1
[n should br made accessible to the negro. tt
r. proposed Territory WAS bounded hy the Gu
= Of Mexico, the Colorado and rio Crane
Rivers, and shielded on the north BY impa
y, best natural roads through Kansas and Sout
y "b The iii 1S providcs that the work be pzac,
c in the hands of the Commissioner Of En-
e g1atioD, and that $500 600 annually oppr
- priated to colonization shall be used to car
, ont its provisions. :.
- SLAVERY on TIE BRAIN.
- Garrett Davis, of KY, certainly is terrib
;, afflicted with elayc1J on the brain. He &
d | talk Of nothing but negroes, compensate
It for their loss, the necessity Of slavery f
n them, and tho determination OF Kentucky
Ia sink or swim with the Institution: N
- Cowan's amendment giving all soldiers
L the same arm in the service the same pa
D. Was pending, when Davis s.saIled in''-
ce usual with long amendment. It provide
se first, that the 9overapae.t disband aud dita'
~ all et1urnd troc7s; that If snch troops are e.
~ ploycd, It sh3uld be in the capacity of labt
F. ers and teamstc1s, and TINT the loyal owne
&C Of slaves employed in these capacities sh
be paid \ full compensation, and that whe1
slave Is lost in the service his master shall !
"a ceiye his full value for him. In the course
~ q long speech he went on to say that
~ ~ country was lost, the South could not
: subdued, and the only hope Of the peol
~ was in tie election of copperhead Fresidel
.. FROM ST. LOUIS. ! :
be =
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an HnaacraT4n nm 1eact r., nTfsSonr1NP1