Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1865-02-10

On motion of Mr.. Maxwell the resolution was
transferred to the secret calendar The Senate then
resolved itself into secret session.
Inc House made public the subject which has
engaged Its attention in secret session for several
DAYS past to wit: the tax bill to meet the discovery
OF an error IN Immediate liabilities. The govern
ment needs four hundred millions dollars and the
Secretary of the Treasury recommends an increase
OF tne tax one hundred per cent TO meet the def
ciency he says the character of this debt is such
tnat lts payment cannot be neglected or postponed
Without danger OF seriously embarrassing the ope-
rauons OF the War Department The House then
resolved itself into secret session.
Peace Commissioners.
Inc commissioners were not allowed to land at
fortress Monroe At o'clock Friday morning
last, Seward and Lincoln met them on board the
transport Ihe interview lasted nearly three hours.
In tne course OF the conversation, Lincoln stated
tnat bairs visit to Richmond, SO far as it contem-
plated any arrangement for peace, was without his
approval Lincoln and Seward both incidentally
samitteo the probability of complication with
foreign powers but professed to be able TO supnress
the rebellion in time to meet them They we're
very courteous to our Commissioners, and Lincoln.
II Is sald related several anecdotes In parting he
SAID, " God bless you and Mr. Hunter asked to be
remembered to all his Old friends North
Mr. Stephens, it is understood, will return to
Georgia and canvass the State for vigorous prose-
cuton OF the war. He says the only hope left for
the south is IN strong arms and stout hearts,
Northern News.
The Herald of the 1st contains an account of the
movements of ths peace Commissioners, and Lincoln
and speculation as to the result
AdVlces from Hilton Head say: Two corps of
Sherman'S army are advancing against Charleston
More than two hundred buildings were DESTROYED
by fire in Savannah.
Lincoln has abated twenty-five per cent of the
quota OF New York, under the impending draft
portant
The Philadelphia Enquirer of the 4th saws that
the impression prevailed at the North on Friday
that the conference at Fortress Monroe would result
IN peace Nothing else was talked Of Gold closed
however, at 27O
Later---From Charleston.
diSpatch from Gen. Wheeler dated Holmes
Bridge, Feb 7th, says his pickets near Blackville
were charged that morning by three brigades of
cavalry and driven beyond the village; BUT Dib
briifs brigrade of Tennessee cavalry being in the
vicinity met the enemy and drove them into the
village again. BiackVie is station on the Charles
ton and Augusta railroad, 80 miles from the former
place and At from the latter. 1t is % miles from
BranchVe.
A despatch from Branchville on the morning of
the 9Th says that the enemy have made their ap.
pearance along the railroad beyond the Edsto river
Braachville is three miles this side the river They
burned house within mile and half of the
railroad on the 7th. Our troops crossed the rail
road bridge the Eilsto burned it, and we sup.
pose, fell back upon the immediate defenees Of
Branchville.
Branchve is midway between Charleston, Au-
gusta, anil Columbia, and is the point where the
roads leading to Columbia and Augusta separate
The distance from Charleston to Columbia is 19O
miles, from Charleston to Augusta 1877 from Coun-
bia to Augusta UiG BranchVille 143 from Branch
vile to Charleston 81, frem Branchville to Colum
bia g. and from Branchvile to Augusta 70 miles,
Gen. Winder died very suddenly Monday even
ing of apoplexy.
1t is our opinion from all we can gather thai !
Sherman is moving on Charleston, and that the
capture of Branchville is merely prelimnar,
movement Going down the railroad from Branch
vile he will take Charleston in the rear, and by
sezing the Florence railroad which enters Charles
ton at acute angles with the Branchyille road, h
will cut off all hope of supplies to the city thus
rying out the same plan of operations which proved
so successful at Savannah. We learn by letter that
there are eleven monitors now off Charleston har-
bor
The Governor of South Carolina has issued
stirring proclamation, calling on the people to arm
in defence of their State.
From Petersburg.
A dispatch from this point of the 9Th says that
fighting had not been resumed but that the enemy
SLlH occupies us new position on f1alcncr s run.
The hostile lines have been extended but not ad-
vanced.
Gen. Sorrell, Of Ga. was wounded through the
lung-not mortally it is supposed. COL Houston,
of Va, was killed in the fight on Monday. Our
loss will not reach 500. The enemys loss is esti-
mated as much heavier. The dead have all been
buried and the wounded brought from the field.
The enemy erecting observatory on our
right The heavy firing before mentioned was
caused by our artillery shelling the enemys lines.
Both sides are engaged to day Strengthening their
new lines.
From the North.
New York papers of the 5th have been received
in Richmond. They contain volumnous kilograms
from Washington relative to the result of the con-
ference at Fortress Monroe. special dispatch to
the Times says, that Lincoln informed the Commits
soners that recognition was utterly out Of the ques-
tion-that the United States could stop the war
only on condition that the authority of the national
government should be recognized and obeyed over
the whole territory of the United States. This
point conceded, he assured them that upon every
other matter Of difference tAey would be treated
with the utmost iberality.
Another telegram says that Stephens was the
most liberal of the rebel deputation. His theory
was, that if we could but treat with them as an in
dependent nation, that such an agreement could bC
had as could unite the North and South. A specis
dispatch to the Tribune says, that Stephens sur
passed his old exhibitions OF strewdness force anC
tact in stating the demands of the Confederacy.
At the conclusion of one of his points, Lincoln
swung forward and interrupted him with, I" that
reminds me of the story Of man in flliRos. !" Th
Commissioners instantly jumped up in roar o
merriment After the story was through, Stephen
| resumed and pursued to the end his statement 0
the terms on which he thought the rebels would b
willing to stop the war. He proposed and urge
his crafty scheme of temporary recognition, but
a recognition absolutely temporary, the three Com
| missioners stood like rocks The result of the cor
ference is union of all parties in vigorous prose
| cuton of the war.
| Fernando Wood took the war path Saturday.
! Cox and other democrats will take it to morrow
Gold 2O4.
Foster has been superseded by Gilmore in con
mand Of the Department of Southwest Virginia.
| From Newbern,
1t is rumored that the enemy has landed som
twenty or thirty thousand troops at Morehead Cit.
with enough iron to lay the Railroad for thirty {
| forty miles. This, if true, would indicate that
movement is to be made from Newbern towart
| Kinston.
| NEGRO AUCTION AND CON