Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-02-14
SOUTHERN NEWS.
The Rebel Congress

",
Barksdale OF Miss, offered bill to increase
the military force of the Confederate States,
authorizing JEFF. Davis to ask for, and accept
from the owners of slaves, the services OF suca
able bodied negro men as he might deem ex-
pedient, to be organized into brigades, under
such officers as President Davis may appoint,
the compensation TO be paid TO the owner or
the slave as the owner nay elect, ana the re-
lations of master and slave to remain I'M
changed.
Mr. Miles IS OIL moved that the bill be re-
lected. He wanted to test the sense OF tne
House upon this subject OF armtng negroes
he wanted to have vote on 1t.
Mr.. Marshall (Ky.) eyes, let US have vote
on it. 1.-THE country know where we stand"
the rajecuon Of the bill be taken by yeas and
Eays.- Ordered. The vote being taken on the
motion resulted-yeas, 2l nays, So. so the Dill
was not rejected.
Mr.. Barksdale moved that the bill be re-
ferreG to a select committee Of one from each
State. After what had been said by the CHAIR
man Of the Military Committee, Mr.. Miles, 1t
ton. All he (Mr. Barksdalel desired was
fair investigation Of the BILL and such
report as its merits and the demands OF
desire to enter upon its discussion now, but
would say that he had INTRODUCED the Dill un-
der the solemn con viction Of duty TO his coun.
try. It raised no irritating issues 1t proVlded
simply that the President should accept the
eral in Chief. Lee, might direct, in order to
save our cause. Nor does he propose TO inter-
fere with the relation OF master and slave.
That question was left by the bill where 1t
properly belongs, to the owners OF slaves, by
consent Of the States and in pursuance OF the
laws thereof Are gentlemen unwilling to let
the people have the privilege OF contributing
slaves as free will Offering to aid in repelling
the savage foe, who Is the common enemy OF
both races! The bill provides nothing more.
Mr.. Wickham (Val moved to postpone the
the pleasure OF the House that the bill would
be referred to the Military Committee; he pre-
ferred, however, that his motion should pre-
vail, so that the question OF putting slaves IN
at once be settled. In his opinion, neither the
people nor the army would submit to 80 mon
strous proceeding, and the day the order goes
forth from the War Department, carrying into
execution the provisions OF the bill of the gen.
tleman from Mississippi, will sound the death
knell Of the Confederacy.
Mr. It. Leach, In his seat-"Thats sou
Mr. Wickham's motion was lost. Mr.. Rogers,
OF Florida, moved to refer the bill TO the Mill.
tary Committee-lost. The motion of Mr..
Barksdale to refer it to Select Committee, was
agreed to.
Thomas Has His Eye ON Mobile.
From the Richmond Wing, Feb. Ill
The Selma Reporter says:-All reports it has
received indicate that Thomas has his eye on
Mobile, and other points in Alabama.
A force will probably move down from the
Tennessee river, on the Blue Mountain Rail-
road, In conjunction with the column that is
said to be getting ready at Pascagoula. Then
we are likely to have raiding parties in Missis-
sippi from Memphis, Vicksburg, Natchez, &c,
to prevent troops from going to Blue Mountain
has seen good deal Of the Yankee movements
lately, writes us that Mobile will certainly be
attacked.
While rumors were plentiful yesterday, the
War Department, last night, was unable to fur.
nish us single item OF news. Our Southern
Carolina than that, on Friday afternoon, the
enemy crossed the Saltkehatchie, between
Braxton and Rivers Bridge; also above Riv-
er's Bridge, out-fianking our forces, who fell
back to another position after a sharp fight
lasting several hours. They took the place.
At Rivers Bridge General Wheeler checked
and damaged the enemy considerably. Since
then there has been no movement Of import.
ance.
Grant Reinforced.
The Petersburg Express, OF Feb. 18th, says
that it has substantial grounds for the belief
that Grant was reinforced last week by twelve
thousand OF Thomass troops, ana during all
of THURSDAY. Friday and Saturday night last
his trains were running from City Point to the
Yellow Tavern.
Durng SATURDAY. afternoon the enemy's
pickets confronting ours near the Baxter road
tainted the Confederates with the remark that
their time had come, and alleged for the asser-
ton that $4,000 of Thomas IT. mas western men had
or wise than comforting to Grant. and his pleas.
ant emotions were not at all abated by the story
OF the contraband that Gen. Lee had sent one
OF his divisions to oppose Sherman.
From South Carolina.
The Charleston Mercury of the 4th says that
the only news from the front was from a des-
patch from Adams Run, reporting all quiet
Another from Salkehatchie, February3, says
our scouts, who went cut this morning, re.
turned, and report from their own observa-
ion, that the intelligence gathered from cit
liens there is that only one division OF
the enemy is remaining at Pocotaligo. 1t is
composed solely Of Testers corps. One bril-
gade is encamped On the road to Salkehatchie
bridge, one on the road parallel to the river
road, and one on the McPhersonville road.
They are very near Pocotaligo, and is easy
supporting distance of each other. But yery
few troops are at Pocotaligo, and they are
fortifying
Troops Landing at Fort Fisher.
The Wilmington Journal of the 9th says that
"on yesterday afternoon, MIR. Young of the Sig
nal Corps, captured three Yankee soldiers
within the enemy's lines, near Smithville.
They port negro troops landing at Fort Fish.
er.