The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1866-01-04

Affairs on the Rio Grande are I'M stdtu
quo. The Liberals % the river are idle.
Fred. Lubbock, ately released from
Fort Delaware, reacted his Texas home
In West Texas he planters, farmers
and freedmen generally are making con-
tracts for next year, satisfactory to both
parties. ~ \
In Central Texas the prospects are not
so good. Planters are discouraged.
Gen. Gregory is making a tour, address,
il 9 the freedmen, with view to persuade
them to make contracts for labor next
year.
Much complaints made about the mail
service throughout Texas. 1t takes seven
teen days to get letters from Houston to
New Orleans, which can be travelled in
four days.
Business i'm Galveston is dropping off.
Goods are daily declining in price.
Hon. John Ray, member of Congress
from Northern Louisiana, writes on the
5th of December from Washington. He is
satisfied with the Presidents reconstruc-
tan policy.
Telegraphic communication from New
Orleans North and East is very irregular.
.:.. .., ... Nashville, Dec. 80.
The latest information from Pulaski
states that the loss of life and property is
less than at first reported. ....,..
n H !, lady SI only was KILLED, Miss Bradden.
injured. One neyroSl Woman was killed
seven other negroes tnore or less severely
injured. ...i ys
The tornado struck the southwestern
part Of town, uprooting trees. and destroy
ing six or seven houses. A Pc rtion of
Richland Factory was destroyed. Sever
al houses i'm south-westerly direction
were levslled to the ground, among, them
those of Mrs. White, 3 miles from town,
and Joshua NJ Cook. 3 miles from Pulaski
This is the extent OF tho damage, as far as
ascertained. ..... ...
New York, Dec. 20.
The Herald's Fort Monroe correspon-
dent says that;Clement C. Clay has recent
ly been permitted by the President to re-
ceive a visit from his wife. Mrs. Clay ar
rived ut the Fort on Thursday of this
week. and was soon after admitted to an
interview with her husband i'm his prison.
She was surprised to find Mr.. Clay in very
good health, his confinement not appear
ing tn have injured his health.
The health of jeff. Davis is also said to
continue good.
Mrs. Clay will probably remain at Fort
Monroe some time. 1t is supposed she
has given up the hope ofgetting her hus-
band paroled. ...
.. San Francisco, Dec. 80.
A dispatch has been received here from
Portland. Oregon. saying the steamer Cas-
cade had succeeded in reaching the cas-
cades Of the Columbia River, with pessen-
gers who started overland from the Dial ss
some Of whom We're badly frozen. The
river is almost clear to Astoria.
Toronto, G. W., Dec. 80.
Hon. Ferguson Blair has accepted the
vacant seat in the Cabinet, vice the Hon.
Geo. Brown, resigned. ..'.
There will he no change in the policy Of
the Government regarding COME dsrations
and other important questions. gag ..
Washington, Dec. 30.
Some Of the papers have enormously
stated that Capt. Semmes is kept in irons.
Ex-Secretsry Of theIImerior, Mr.. Usher,
Of Indiana, is among the --latest arrivals.
-r--, - oswcgo, Dee. 40. -
The Oswego & Rome Railroad is com :
nlsttbnnhsnte- fiihIins'o MoMaay neeiTit.
-. ... Washington, Dec. 80.
1t appears from the official announce
ment that the people Of North Carolina
have declared null and void the ordinance
of secession by vote OF 1877, against
l,9i0, and 1887 votes were cast to ratifv
III, ordinance prohibiting slavery, and
1886 to reject said ordinance
The War Department. issued an order
this m 'rniny to the Provost Marshal to
turn over to the Navy Department tenn
porarly the Old Capitol Prison, for the
confinement of Capt. Semmes, but no or
der has vet been given by the Navy De-
partment for placing him there. His trial
uary.
The U. $. steam sGoops, Vanderbilt and
Tuscarora, and the m onitOr Monadnock,
put into the port OF CAYENNE, Dutch
Guiena, on the 9th Of November, to take
in coal. All on board the vessel were in
good con dition.
The u. 5. Consulate at Port Mahan
writes to the State Department tn It the
Cholera has nearly disappeared from that
Province, and says that the mortality i'm
Spain has bssn far greater than will ever
be known.
Assistant Secretary Chandler and Hon.
Harvey Watterson, of Tennessee, have
been sent on II special mission among the
Treasury Custom Agents in the Southern
States, to investigate the many charges of
fraud and corruption against them.
In conse4 uence of the snow storm, the
steamer Desoto did not sail to-day. Az was
expected, for the South Atlantic. Tnecon-
trip is not political. . ..
Worcester, Mass, Dec. 30.
An inquest held on the body Of Artemus
Ward and wife. who were found dead ut
their residence OH Friday morning, result
ed in a verdict of having died from inhal-
ing coal gas. ..
. ..'. ..... -.. Baltimore. Dec. 80.
Hon. Henry Winter Davis died at half
past this p. m.
NJ MARRIED. December 9th, 1865, at the