The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-02-23
News of the Week.

event in the dry goods line; and surpass
anything of the kind heretofore known
Over ten thousand bales of goods had been
entered up to the 10th.
Respite has been granted in the case Of
the Lake Erie rebel pirate, Capt. Beal, and
he will not be hanged on Governors Is.
land as at first decided.
The Canadian House has adopted the ap-
preparation Of $3.50, 900, for expenses Of vol.
unteers sent to- the frontier to prevent raids
upon the United States. Also an appropri-
alton of $4,000, to- make good the money
improperly returned b. the 81. Alban raid.
erS.
Late rebel papers contain some very in.
teresting disclosures regarding the corrup
ton of JEFF. Davis cabinet, giving an IN
sight into the causes of its recent dissolu.
ton. committee Of the Richmond Con.
gress has. presented Seldom, late Secretary
Of War, as guilty of gross swinding.
The winter in Europe has been very Sc.
we're. The Seine and the Loire have been
frozen over, and the railways cfogged with
three feet of snow. 1t required garrison
Of soldiers to relieve the passengers.
The Herald's Shenandoah correspondent
says an expedition, consisting of 800 picked
men from Michigan cavalry, after march
of forty miles, meeting no opposition, reach
ed Charlotte iron furnace on Water Dick
Greek, which the rebels had IN full blast,
preparing iron for shot and shells. The es.
adjustment, with al! its machinery and ma.
terial, were destroyed. The force then re.
turned, meeting with trifing annoyances
from guerrillas. The nam portion of the
rebel army is said to be near Staunton.
In the Senate, at Washington on Thurs.
day, the bill to regulate commerce between
the several States, and the naval appropria.
ton bill, were discussed In the House, the
bill for the establishment of steam mail SER
vice between the United States, China and
Japan was passed, ard the amendatory in.
ternal revenue bill was considered.
The Legislature Of the State Of Nevada
has ratified the Constitutional amendment.
Only two votes in the negative.
In Congress on Monday. the House OBJ
jected to a resolution of Fernando Wood,
about exporting government cotton, tabled
resolution of Cox enquiring about the
amount of GOLD in the Treasury, refused to
table an inquiry for list Of prisoners not
guilty Of offences, and proceeded to consider
the bill providing governments for States
subverted by the rebellion. DAVIS of Maine
spoke in opposition. In the Senate bill
equalizing clerk and stationary expenses of
internal revenue assessors introduced, hill
to pay $4,000 for Powell's picture o. the
battle of Lake Erie recommended to be pass
ed, resolution of thanks to Gen. Thomas
and Admiral Lee. reported back. Petition
of Provost Marshals for increased pay re.
ported against, and an amendment of Trum.
bull to the army appropriation bill removing
all distinctions of rank and pay between
regular and volunteer officers, was defeated
by 1s to "a.
The New York Times thinks it will be q
hard matter to bring DAVIS and Lee to terms
Of peace. 1t says: "a powerful army,
hardened in hundred battles, and mum.
bering probably over 60, 300 men, still holds
Richmond and defiss the utmost power of
the Union. 1t is commanded by two men
Of &, eat determination of character, of in.
tense pride and remarkable ability--Lee
and Davis. We have no reason to sup.
pose these two leaders of different purpose,
or with any less firm resolve than ever to
fight out the war to the end"
In the Senate, Friday. the credentials Of
Mr.. Segar, Senator from Virginia (meaning
East Virginia), were presented, and laid
over to be acted upon by the next Con-
gress. A resolution was adopted declaring
that the United States will in nSevent be-
come responsible for the rebel debt The
Naval appropriation bill was passed. In the
House, reports we're made in favor of admit.
ting three Representatives from Louisiana
and two from Arkansas. The amendatory
Internal Revenue bill was discussed, and
amendments were adopted, in Committee of
the Whole, imposing tax of ! Of per
cent. upon sales Of goods, wares and mer-
chandise. and 10 per cent upon sales of
gold, excepting for expectation, to pay du.
ties on imports and interest on the public
debt.
Information from the army of the Pc.
tomac as late as the 10th, reports all
quiet. Deserters are constantly COM
ing in, and are more numerous than
for long time. They have averaged
over seventy a day for the past week
among them several officers. The ut
most dependency prevails through
their ranks since the late fight, and
they seem determined to keep the field
no longer, as they claim they can new
er gain their independence, and see nc
reason why they should remain and BE-
all killed
They say that deserving is SO gener'
al to the rear that Lee has issued ar
order to arrest every man found half
mile away from his camp or post
One man said his company was thirty
strong week ago, but fifteen had dis
appeared since-ten to the United