Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-07-29


A vote vas taken and resulted Yeas SO,
nays 81. So the resolution was, laid on the
table. The Democrats voted il, the neea-
tive
The Senate bin for the admission Of Ne
braska was passed-63 to SO.
The Senate joint resolution eontinuingthe
army regulations came up, and on motion Of
Mr.. SCHENCK, who characterized it as a
controversy of the Senate to avoid passing
an army bill, was agreed to.
The report from the conference commit
tee on the deficiency bill was agreed to.
The report of the conference committee on
the evil appropriation bill was received,
which relates to increased compensation
IF Senators and members, and making the
pay Of tie Speaker $4,000. 1t was re-
iected
Another conference was asked FROM the
Senate.
Report ON Jefferson Davis.
The report Of the Judiciary Committee on
JEFF. DAVIS was received. The committee
submit mass of testimony, showing that
the rebel authorities under the direction of
DAVIS. decided not to give negro soldiers and
their officers the treatment due to prisoners
Of war. It is shown that Gen. KIRBY SMITH
objected to the capture of negroes in arms,
and letters from him to DICK TAYLOR, ae-
company the report, in which he says: q
have been officially informed that some OF
your troops have captured negroes in arms.
hope that may be so, and that your subor-
dinates in command of capturing parties
may have recognized the propriety of Civ
ing no quarter to negroes and their officers"
The conference committee on the army
bill made their report, and the same was
agreed to.
A message of JEFF DAVIS is also quoted
in which he proposes that Union officers in
command of negro troops shall, when cap
tured, be dealt with as criminals. With re-
gard to the maltreatment of Union prisoners
generally, it is shown that JEFF DAVIS de-
cided that the Union troops were incendia-
ries and robbers, and had forfeited their
claim to be treated as prisoners Of war. A
great mass of testimony is adduced to show
that prisoners were treated in accordance
with the views of Davis as above set forth.
The documents cited are all of rebel origin,
and show that the prisons at the South were
in a frightful condition. The facts were
frequently brought to the notice of the Con-
Ederate authorities, but without avail. A
letter from one JABINA, dated at Jalesburg,
Oct. 22d, 1864 to DAVIS says, with regard to
the suffering of prisoners at Florence, that if
such things are allowed to continue they
will most surely draw down summary iudg-
ment upon our country. 1t is a most horri-
BILE national sin that cannot go UNPUBLISHED.
five cannot give them food and shelter, for
Gods sake send them back to Yankee land,
but don't starye them"
Accompanying the letter was an article
from the Sumter Waterman, giving details
of visit made by the writer to the prison
at Florence. The account is most horrible
one. These prisoners are described as filthy,
diseased famished men, with no hope of re-
lief except by death. All were in rags and
barefoot, and crawling with vermin. A mass
of similar testimony is submitted, all going
to show that DAVIS was fully aware of the
condition of the prisoners.
Infurther confirmation of this view, copies
are given of letters from foreigner named
DEKALB, who proposed to blow up the
Capital at Washington, when ABE, his myr-
indians and the Northern Congressman were
assembled there. One of these letters is in
dorsed by WALKER rebel Secretary of War.
An other letter from PARAMER, stating that
he had found a means of disPosing of lead
ing characters at the North in an underhand
manner is Endorsed by JEFFERSON DAVIS
Another letter from DUNHAM directly pres
sing the assassination of SEWARD, LINCOLN
GREELEY, PRENTICE, etc, written to DAVIS
and referred by him to the rebel Secretary
of War, is produced. The Committee think
that from these letters that DAVIS and his
Cabinet knew that the plot of assassination
was going on.
Copious extracts from the testimony giyer
at the trial of PAYNE, Mrs. SURRAT, anC
other Accomplices, are submitted, all tending
to confirm the opinion. 1t is also stated thai
sfidavits have been taken by the Judge Ad
vocate from several persons, who swore tina
they were present at an interview between
SURRAT, DAVIS and BENJAMIN, further es
tablishing the guilt of DAVIS, but beint
brought before the Committee these parties
/ retracted, but without giving any satisfactO
ny reason for so doing. The report close
with resolutions declaring there is nothing
to prevent the trial of DAVIS for treason
and that it is the duty of the Executive t.
investigate the facts connected with the as
| sination.