Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-03-21
THE EVENING STAR.
NEWS FROM REBELLION.
The Ccrrespendence Between Gems. 1Fans
and Lee.

nassad biIl suspenaing the privilege OF the
writ OF haoeas eorpus-yeas 30, nays ". Iester-
tion-yeas s, nays 9. So the habeGs corpus ques-
ton ls disposed Of for the present The "militia
bill" had also received auietus in the Senate,
and from the temper OF the House, 1t does not
appear that either that measure or the claw OF
3 few lines" abolishing "class exemptions
will receive the sanction Of q majority. botn
Houses have adopted resolutions for an ao-
tournament sine die next Saturday.
The Military Committee on jeff. Davis.
In the rebel House of RepresentauVes' VI.
Friday, Mr.. Pugh, Of Ala, on the par. on &c
Military COMMITTEES, submittsa isp u,es
lation TO that portion OF the rresios 0"s
.a0e relating to military affairs, winch nad
neen referred to that committee.
The com mittee found but two measures sug-
.a.tad in the message for recruiting the army.
list A law of few lines repeating all class
exemptions.
The report stated that the law Of exemptions
mad been thoroughly considered, and the COM
m,ttee had reported bill which was finally
laid aside, and a bill passed by the House re-
ducipg and restricting the number of exemp-
tlons and details, while q few class exemptions
are allowed. The recommendations OF the
President TO abolish all class exemptions, and,
TO confer upon him alone the unlimited power
Of detail presents the question whether repre-
sentatives Of the people or the Executive shall
decide what persons shalt constitute the army
in the field, and what persons shall remain at
home in pursuits indispensable to the vital ia
teIests Of the country.
Without discussing the policy OF subjecting
all classes, individuals and ayocatons to the
exclusive control of the Executive Depart
ment OF the Government, experience mas DEM
onstrated that the power of detail, as hereto
fore exercised has afforded more unnecessary
immunity from military service than the we'll
guarded legislation upon the subject OF ex-
emptions. The committee entertain the opln-
ion that serious abuses had been developed
under the system OF detail-that this opinion
was genera, and tended TO create discomfort
visa6le to abate by further limitations Of the
power.
President, and deemed by him ''the measure
most needed at the present time for aftordng q
most effective increase to our military strength,
is q general militia law" This subject was
considered by the committee st an ear ly period
OF the session and q bill prepared in pursuance
OF the recommendations of the Presidents mes
sage. After mature elaboration, it was de-
cided unnecessary and inexpedient A mi
nority of the com mittee were willing to organ.
ize the militia of the States, whatever it might
consist of, and to authorize the President to
call sueh organizations into the military ser
vice of the Confederate States, irrespective OF
State lines, and, therefore, favored the bill re-
ferred TO, though they did not consider it's pas
sage of prime importance. Congress had placed
at the disposal of the President all male per-
sons between the ages of II and so, and the
committee could not see what advantage could
arise from the passage OF general militia law,
but were Of the opinion that the power would
be more efficient in the hands Of the Governors
OF the States. So for as the placing OF negroes
IN the service, as soldiers, was concerned, the
committee insisted that the President himself
and his " ar minister had both declared against
its immediate expediency at the beginning Of
the session, hence it was not earlier consId-
cred.
Message of the President.
RICHMOND, VA. March Is, ls65.-To the Sem
ote and House Of Representatives.: herewith
transmit for your Information copies OF the
correspondence referred to in my message OF
this date, In regard to the proposed conferences
to adjust terms of peace by means OF military
convention. JEFFERSON DAVIS.
LETTER OF GENERAL R. K. LEE.
HEADQUARTERS y. S. ARMIES, March 2. 1865.
Lieutenant General u s. Grant, Commanding
United States Armies: - General: Lieutenant
General Longstreet has informed me that, In a
recent conversation between himself and Major
General Ord, as 10 the possibility Of arriving
1t satisfactory adjustment OF the present
convention, General Ord stated that if desired
10 have an interview with you on the subject,
You would not decline, provided had author
ify TO act. Sincerely desiring TO leave nothing
Rntried which may put amend to the calamities
OF war, propose to meet you at such conve.
nient tine and place as you may designate,
views, it may be found practicable to submit
the subjects of controversy between the bel.
Igerents to convention Of the kind men
toned.
In such event, am authorized to do what
ever the result OF the proposed interview may
render necessary or ADVISABLE. Should yop
II agreeable to you, we meet al the place
selected by Generals Ord and Longstreet for
the interview, at IL a. m, Oh Monday next
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Oficial copy %. S. yENABLE 4 a. G..
Headquarters, March 7, 1866.
LETTER OF GENERAL Q. g. GRANT.
HEADQUARTERS ARMIES UNITED STATES,
Mach 4, 1s65--GenerGt r. T.. Lee, Commanding
C.. s. Armies General: Your two letters Of
the Goth inst were received yesterday. In re-
npd IN a.
reference 10 the exchan ge Of political prisoners,
think there need be none. General Ord or
General Longstreet have probably misunder-
stood what said TO the former on the subject,
or may have failed TO make myself under
stood, possibly.
A few days before the interview between
Generals Longstreet and Ord, had received a
despatch from General Hoffman, commissary
general OF prisoners, stating In substance that
al prisoners Of war who were or had been in
close confinement or irons, whether under
charges or sentences, had been ordered TO City
Point for exchange forwarded the substance
Of that despatch TO Lieutenant Col. Milford,
assistant agent OF exchange, and presumed it
probable that he had communicated 1t to Col.
Robert Guild. day or two after, an offender,
who was neither prisoner Of war nor politi-
cal prisoner, was executed, after fair and i'm
Of war and the usage of civilized nations 1t
was in explanation of this class of cases l told
General Ord to speak TO General Longstreet.
Reference to my letter OF February 10 will
show my understanding on the subject of
releasing political or citizen prisoners.
In regard TO meeting you on the 9th instant,
i would state that i have no authority to ac-
cede 10 your proposition for conference on
the subject proposed. Such authority is vested
in the President Of the United States alone
General Ord could only have meant that
would not refuse an interview on any subject
on which have right to act, which OF course
would be such as are purely of military
character, and on the subject Of exchange,
which has been entrusted TO me-
have the honor TO be, very respectfully,
your obedient servant, u. 5. GRANT,
Lieutenant General.
LETTER OF THE PRESIDENT.
RICHMOND, Va, Feb. Is, 1S65.-Generdl X. E.
Lee, Commanding, dc General: You will
learn by the letter Of General Longstreet the
result OF his second interview with General
Ord. Inc point as to whether yourself or
General Grant should invite the other to q
conference Is not worth discussing. If you
think The statements Of General Ord render il
probably useful that the conference suggested
should be had, you will proceed as YOU NAV
prefer, and are clothed with the supplemental