The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-12-20
t.r.,., from thr National Capital.
correspondence of the Press.l
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Dec. II, 1866
AN INrEREsrING INCIDENT.

AN INTERVIEWING INCIDENT.
This morning the House has presented quite
an animated appearance. A large number of
resolutions have been introduced relating prin-
cpally to financial questions and to investiga-
ton into Executive conduct
One of the most interesting incidents Of the
session, was the reading of all autograph letter
from the Emperor Alexander of Russia in res
ponse to Joint Resolutions adopted at the last
session, congratulating the author of Russian
Emancipation on his escape from assassination.
That ngfatulation was adopted, it will be re-
membered with but one dissenting voice, Sgd
enham e. Aucona, Copperhead from Penn
sylvania. He will pass into history as an in
dorser of assassination when directed against
Emancipators.
When the Clerk read the title of the Execu-
tive communication containing the letter, Mr.
Maynard OF Tenn4 always impressive and new
er falling to secure attention, rose and asked
for its reading. The Clerk proceeded 10 read
IN the chop-stick style common to them, whicn
PUSHES out the first part OF sentence with an
the force OF vigorous lungs, and then suddenly
chops it off towards the end IL Is very dls-
agreeable The letter will be sent by telegraph.
When the reading of the friendly sentences
was concluded a hearty round of applause
sponded thereto
PERSECUTION OF SOUTHERN UNIONIsTs
Mr.. Dawes of Mass offered resolution di-
recting that Mr.. Pixies special Committee TO
inquire into the release of the South Carolina
murderers of certain Maine soldiers, be also
directed to inquire into the case of Henry Mill
err now confined at Marlborough, S. C., I'M
der sentence of death as deserter and spy
from the rebels. 1t appears Henry Miller is a
German UniOnist who was residing in the
Palmetto State when the rebellion begun To
escape draft he hid himself, but was discovered
and forced into the rebel army. When Sher-
man marched from the sea through the Caro-
llnas, Miller deserted. He gave Information of
the concealment of arms ammunition, horses,
etc, and piloted detachment to their capture.
Gen. Sherman sent the family north. They
remained with brother in Saugus N. Y, till
the war closed, when the wife returned South
and the husband followed soon after. A few
months ago, Miller was arrested as deserter
and spy, and put in prison. The indictment
was changed to highway robbery, upon which
he was convicted and sentenced to death. Mr..
Dawes stated he called on the President on Sat
urday and presented the facts. Mr. johnson
telegraphed Gen. Sickles and his reply con-
veyed information as to the nature of the
charge. -1c
Horace Maynard asked Mr. Dawes to amend
50 that the Committee might investigate other
cases and report such legislation as may be
necessary to prevent these prosecutions of I'm
ionsts. He said such cases as Miller was but
part of a system existing in the unrepresented
states and cited an indictme ut found in North
Carolina against Mr.. Nelson of Tenn, son of
former representative in Congress. The ac-
eusation is murder, the fact that Nelson shot u
rebel while with his command on a raid in
North Carolina 1t is reported that Worth has
made a requisition ON Brownlow tor the body
of Nelson. OF course he will not get him.
That is not the way the Parson-Goyernor does
business
On Saturday last had long interview with
Northern man who has just escaped from out
the mouth of He'll i. e., South Carolina
used the word escaped" because it expresses
the fact exactly. Mr.. Davis, THAT is the name
Of my infOrmant) was member of the New
York Legislature in 1863 a Democrat, he was,
however, loyal. After Lee and Johnston sur
rendered he went to Georgia, where at Angus
ia he made speech in favor of my Policy" as
then developed Then he went to South Car
DINA, opening store in the Barnwell District
about 80 miles back of Charleston. He soon
became disguised with the RECONSTRUCTED" and
grew to sympathize with and be recogniz-
ed by the freed people Last spring he leased
plantation, stocked it, and hired sufficient of
the best hands in the district to run it. This
fact the wages he paid, and the work he OBJ
tanned Infatuated the planters, and from the
the first week of his occupancy terrible sys-
TEN of persecution commenced. Davis is not
Of the stuff that lives quietly under such treat
ment, SO he retaliates When his fences were
set fire his neighbors for miles around were
sure to be seen blazing ere night fell. When
his stock was run of, the neighbcr's somehow
got astray also. When he was fired at, as was
often the case in riding through the woods,
some one else known to be connected with
such actions was sure to soon hear bullet
WhiStling near hun. Of course this sort OF
thing could not be long carried on. Davis con-
cluded to leave temporarily and to that end
made an arrangement with partner he had
to run the plantation. After this was DONE he
concluded that his associate was treacherOus,
and with the aid ola Union family Davis
made a cabin on an Island in a swamp and liv
ed there for nearly two months, watching his
plantation and keeping in communication
with his hands. His fears we've realized, the
partner was preparing to sell him out, when
Davis again made his appearance and took
charge. After this the notorious outlaws
known as Regulators were brought from the
vicinity of Edgefield. They were set on his
track. Davis finding that he would be killed,
sold his lease, growing crop and stock for two
thousand dollars, taking note payable in Oc-
tober last and made his way out of the State.
In October he went back with couple OF
friends to collect the amount. He tried to
keep his presence secret, but was betrayed
The Regulators were again set upon him, and
this time he was nearly caught being shot at
and then regularly hunted by bloodhounds.-
He had again TO leave and without the money
due him.
The especial animosity displayed against him
was owing not only to his obstinate resistance
of them, but because he exposed to the military
authorities their plumber of the freed people
Among other things Davis projected SUBJ
division of his plantation among the hands,
leaving tracts of 20 and 40 acres to them On
this he was actually charged before the mill
tary authority with melting instruction
Since, he has been indicted for this in the
Courts and is now liable to process
There is no doubt of the substantial truth of
Mr.. Davis story, as it is confirmed in many
particulars by official papers.
RE-EsTABLIsHMENT OF SLAVERY.
Gen Schenck introduced a resolution relat-
ing to the sale into slavery of freed people un-
dor nf he 1lorI
which the resolution was based, is that of a
man now advertised to be sold at the Court
House of Frederick County. The introduc-
ton of this brought out little speech from Mr..
Stevens who recited the case of seven persons
sold for term of years in Florida and declar-
ed that system OF actual slavery was growing
up under the permitting of "servitude for the
punishment of crime" A number of cases were
br Jught out, during the brief debate Mr..
Stevens Characterization on Maryland was of
the btterest and most pungent style. His de-
nuncation is verified by the statements of Gen
Howard in his report just given to the public.
The able head of the Ereedmen's Bureau thus
recounts some OF the Maryland evasions of
emancipation.
"The legal disabilities of freedmen in that
part of Maryland embraced in this district are
still practically great.
Apprenticeship are many complaints
OF abuses under the apprenticeship law. Col
ored children have generally been bound with
out the consent OF their parents. report
rom tne bureau agent regarding Calvert and
Anne Arundel counties says that within a few
days after the emancipation constitution went
into effect it was the practice to take the chill
dren ON farm before the orphans court and
have them apprenticed to the former own
er. Instances are mentioned where the chill
dren were hired out, the former owner receiv-
ing the wages. In another case the children
after being brought into court on hdbedS corpus
and delivered to their parents, were hired out
by the parents, thus clearly showing that
they were not likely to become a coun-
replevined By the MASTER thus diverting their
earnings from their parents to him The re-
port further estimates that there are six hum
dred cases of unjust apprenticing in Calvert
Arundel, and the same practice has prevailed
to some extent in other counties
The agents of this bureau have niuan ntto,,