The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-02-20
THE GATE CITY
rebel Debates.

there was debate In the Rlchm0nt
Congress, January 80, on the means O
strengthening their army and on the
employment of negroes in military service
The Rebel Legislators talked in the course
OF it very much as the Rebel press fhas
been printing for six weeks past despcn-
IDENTIFY of their general condition. Now
and then fact leaked out. Mr.. Smith,
Of North Carolina, said there were less
than 200. 900 men in the Rebel armies,
and that even those could not be fed
Outside of the army the suffering is ex-
treme. ''privatc appeals were daily COM
ing to the Members vi Congress from SOL
diers in thc'army, speaking ofthe suffering
at home; how many of their families are
wanting the neeessaries OF lie, when they
are unable TO send them any part of their
scant pay" Why unable ? Is it true
that Rebel soldiers are not allowed to
write home?
Mr.. Chambers, of Virginia, said there
was as great deficiency in clothing as 10
food The next campaign was expected
to be the "worst and heaviest and most
decisive OF the war. In other words,
everything is TO be staked on the great
battles in the Spring and Summer Every
days news shows more clearly the purpose
of the Rebel leaders to augment their ar
mics for one struggle, sacrificing all future
chances to the hope OF success in that
Yet air. Goode, of Virginia, says that all
the enrolling officers agree the State can
not stand another draft. Mr.. Holcombe,
another i. +. ", confessed it was pre-.
Curious matter TO supply. from week to
week, the army in the field. Other men,
bers spoke in the same strain. There was
no denial OF the statements Everybody
asserted, or admitted, or took it for gran
ted, that there was great dcstitution in
the army and everywhere else. 1t only
the Copperhead journals at the North
WHO think il worth while to say there is
not.
A discussion followed on the employ
ment Of slaves ana free negroes very
shocking, indeed, it must be to the sensi-
bilites of Northern Conservatives. If
the negro is to make his appearance in
military service on both sides, where are
they TO turn for relief? What will be-
come of English sympathies, which our
enlistment of negroes has attracted to the
South The bill IN question gives au-
thoriiy to employ 10000 negroes, who
are "to perform such duties with the army,
or in connection with the military defen-
ses of the country in the way of work up
on iortlfeations, &c, 6e., as the Secretary
OF War may from time to time prescribe "
So there is nothing in the terms of the act
to prevent Dir. Seldom from putting
musket on the shoulder of every one Of
his 40 600 black men. What will per
haps really prevent him, Mr.. Smith, of
Alabama, revealed, in remarking that
there was 20 much danger the negroes
would desert to the enemy that it would
be unsafe to employ them In any way. 1t
was replied, in substance, that Rebellion
was in desperate straits and must adopt
desperate measures and the bill passed.
We wait with interest for the appearance
OF the first black Rebel regiment in arms
Oh the field of battle N. Y. Tribune.
QuGRIrs FOR SCIENTIFIC MEN.-In
what na,ner does diamond act upon glass
SO as t. cat it! That it does not pene-
tratd Its substance is obvious to any one
who attend TO It's operations, for it only
divides the exceedingly attenuated pelli-
Gle on the surface, and penetrates no
deeper. The best cut OF a diamond is
when it makes the least noise in passing
the line, and it cuts in the same manner
the thickest as well as thc thinnest plates
oil glass. The Encyclopedia American
says That it is very remarkable that
only tie point Of a natural crystal can be
used eut or split diamonds scratch, but
the class will not break along the scratch
as it does when the natural crystal can be
used. Again the scratch is often found
to follow the diamond after il has passed
several inches. That it does not cut by
diviaing the pellicles is clear, because a
piece OF quaitz will do the same by pass
log it in lhe same line repeatedly, yet il
will not break true. How does the dia-
moud act! Is it by electricity or galvan-
ism, OF the carbon acting upon the com
pound OF which glass is composed -
THE REBEL LOAN N EsGLAND.-Tht
recent advance Ia tie rebel cotton loan II
Lonlon il said 70 have been caused by tht
arrival Of the p Per cent stipulated t
be paid semi.annually with principal. tn,
payment to take place on the ist o
March Tie distribution, it appears, vii
not take place pro rata in the ordinary
manner, but a certain number Of th'
bonds viii be paid Off al par, and the de
cisiun as to which of the bonds shall b
SO paid of will be by lot. 1t is in Fac
neither more nor less than lottery unde
another name. The holder OF bond will
If it turns out to be one of those draw
for payment at par-in other words, if i
turns up a przs-- receive hundre'
pounds for what only cost him thirty
eight to forty pounds. Hence demand
for the bonds and rise in prices. An
other reason for the rise is found in th
fact that sellers who have been dealing il
the bonds without holding any, exreciin.
to settle With the buyer By paying or re
oeivlng difference according to the fluc
tnstions of the market, are now calle
upon to deliver the bonds, in consequence
of the above chance to realiya and ar