Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-03-05

or two Captains, one Ex-Goyerner, two In.
dian Agents, one Tax Commissioner, and manv
others. Here, too, were the accomplished
ladies of Senator Howe, McIndoe and Gen.
Webb, of La Crosse, and Col Murphy: the
lively and sparkling Misses Howe, niece and
daughter of the Senator, and the interesting
Miss White, of Green Bay, besides MANI
others whose names now escape me. Here
was Starkweather, whose clarion voice has
resounded on many battlefield, and whose
well earned star so BELTS the gallant wearnr
the hacked and mutilated Sweet. the war
worn Poole, the manned Curtis, the neryous
and contentious Beal, limping from the effects
of rebel lead, but refusing TO Weld To time
and grow old; Mansfield, with his lon,
deserved and faithfully worn eaole.- CoIo
Murphy, vindicated but not restored. tho
able and polite Doolittle the firm and in
dependent Howe /; the imperturbable Cobb
alike unfinching in Legislative halls and IN
the field; the faithful and popular McIndoe.
the smiling and good natured Copperhead Ed.
ridge; the earnest and sincere Davis the hn-
morOus and buoyant Webb; the venerable
looking Richards, the founder of the frst
paper in Milwaukee, and his less venerable
Wing persuasion. In chat and song. and
dance, tire night passed till the '.wee small
hours" of the evening, when all went sober
home, grateful to the generous ladies for
opening their doors to so pleasant a reunion
and feeling that we had enjoped one of the
green spots in the pathway of life, whose
cheer sheds its fragrance into the future.
But l have spun this yarn too long. | am
glad to notice that the merits of two gallant
officers have been recognized, and that Has
kell and Mansfield have been appointed Col
onels. Two better or more faithful officers
have not hoRored the service
| notice that Gilmore has entered Florida
with a force sufficient to occupy and hold the
State, and expect before another winter that
she will be restored to the Union free State
worthy of her Northern associates r.
DIscoNTINUANcE or THE CoNFIscArIoS SrrTs.
"A letter is published from Assistant Attor-
ney-General Cofey to the United States Dis
trict Attorney, giving instructions with refer
ence to the Presidents amnesty proclamation.
1t appears from this that the cOnfiscation bill
is nulliied by the amnesty, so far as the reb-
els acceptit There is, therefore, no case of
judicial proceedings to enforce the penalties
of acts ofrebellion, which cannot be reached
and cured by the constitutional or statutory
power of the President to grant pardon and
amnesty, whether the proceeding be against
the person of the offender by criminal indct-
ment, or against his property, under the con.
! fiscation act referred to. Gen. c. continues:
The President has accordingly directed me
TO instruct you that in any case where pro
ceedings have been commenced and arr.
| pending and undetermined i'm the District or
| Circuit Courts of the United States for your
| district, against person charged with acts of
rebellion, and not Of the excepted class.
whether they be by Indictment or seizure and
\ libel of his property for confiscation, the
rights of other parties not having interviewed.
| you will discontinue and put an end To those
proceedings, whenever the person so charged
shall produce evidence satisfactory to YOU
that he has in good faith, taken the oath and
complied with the conditions prescribed by
the Presidents Proclamation of the Sth Of
| December, 1863. If in any case YOU have
good reason to believe that the oath has been
taken for the mere purpose Of obtaining pos
| session OF personal property seized under the
cOnfscation acts, with the intent to remove
| IL from tie Subsequent reach OF tue OIncefs
| of law, you will make report of the facts and
reasons for your belief to this officer before
disseminating proceedings or restoring such
property to the possession of the owner.
Were easier terms ever before offered to
rebels? And yet the Copperheads complain
that the Administration compels the people
of the South to continue in insurrection by
the unrelenting severity of the policy it
adopts towards them!