December 2.—The Memphis Avalanche of this day, says: “Hang ’em,” yes, hang them, everyone. Every East Tennessean found recreant to the will and interest of the State of Tennessee, and known to be actively conniving with its enemies, should be hung and loftily. When the citizens of a State have, by an overwhelming majority at the ballot-box, determined on its foreign policy, and by that policy have been necessitated to arm for the defence of their homes and firesides, every resident on the soil of that State who lends or gives aid to the invader, deserves as little mercy as Beelzebub will give them in his empire. Wherever the cobra-like head of treason is lifted, it should be stricken off, and that quickly, for its poisonous saliva is as contagious as the airs of Malemma. “Hang ’em, hang ’em,” every one.
—Three rebel gunboats came up in sight of Fort Holt, near Cairo, Ill., this afternoon and fired several shots, which were returned from the fort and the batteries at Bird’s Point. A shot from the Point went over the rebel steamers and they turned back down the river. Soon after General Grant followed them, but was unsuccessful in overtaking the fleet.—Cincinnati Gazette, December 3.
—This day General Blenker, learning that a party of rebel cavalry were foraging a few miles in front of his position at Hunter’s Chapel, Va., despatched a squadron of horsemen to drive them off. They met, and a brief engagement ensued before the rebels put spurs to their horses and ran off, having three or four killed and wounded, and leaving two prisoners. The Nationals lost one man killed. The names of the prisoners are Alexander Maxwell, of Rectortown, Fauquier County, Virginia, and Wm. H. Dennis, of Salem, in the same county. The latter’s horse was taken with him. They were both members of Company II, Sixth regiment of Wise (Va.) Dragoons, Col. Field commanding. They had been sent to forage from their camp, two miles from Centreville.— Washington Star, Dec. 3.
—A sharp engagement between the U. 8. gunboats Hetzel, Seymour, White Head, Shawshene, and the rebel steamer Patrick Henry, took place about five miles above Newport News, Va. The bombardment lasted about two hours, commencing at five o’clock in the morning. The rebel steamer kept close to the shore, where a powerful battery assisted it materially.—(Doc. 209.)
—In the convention of Western Virginia, in session at Wheeling, Mr. Hagan, of Boone County, offered the following resolution, which was referred to the Committee on Fundamental and General Provisions:
Whereas Negro Slavery is the origin and foundation of our National troubles, and the cause of the terrible rebellion in our midst, that is seeking to overthrow our Government; and whereas Slavery is incompatible with the Word of God, detrimental to the interests of a free people, as well as wrong to the slaves themselves; therefore,
Resolved, That this Convention inquire into the expediency of making the proposed new State a free State, and that a provision be inserted in the Constitution for the gradual emancipation of all slaves within the proposed boundaries of the new State, to be submitted to the people of the same, for their approval or rejection.
—A military execution occurred at Shepherd’s Hill, near Centreville, Va. Two members of the New Orleans company, known as “The Tigers,” were shot for mutinous conduct and an assault upon the officer of the day.—Richmond Examiner, December 9.
—Both Houses of Congress met at Washington. In the Senate Mr. Trumbull gave notice of a bill to confiscate the property of the rebels and give freedom to persons in the slave States. Mr. Wilkinson gave notice of a bill to abolish the distinction between regular and volunteer forces.
In the House Mr. Maynard was, after some discussion, sworn in as a member from the second district of Tennessee. The question as to the right of Mr. Segar, of Va., to a seat was referred. Mr. Eliot offered a series of resolutions in favor of emancipating the slaves in the rebel districts. A motion to lay them on the table was lost by a vote of fifty-six to seventy, and the further consideration of them was postponed until the next Tuesday. Messrs. Campbell and Stevens also offered resolutions of similar import. Mr. Roscoe A. Conklin submitted a resolution calling upon the Secretary of War for information in regard to the responsibility of the disastrous movement at Ball’s Bluff, which was adopted. On motion of Mr. Odell, the President was requested to order John Slidell into close confinement, in return for similar treatment of Col. A. M. Wood, of the Fourteenth regiment N. Y. S. M., who was taken prisoner at Bull Run. A resolution of similar (illegible) in reference to James M. Mason, in return for the treatment to Col. Corcoran, was unanimously passed.
—The bark Samuel Moxley, partly owned in Apalachicola, Florida, was seized under the confiscation act by the collector at New London, Conn. The vessel had just arrived there in ballast from Sligo Island.
—The Eighty-seventh regiment N. Y. S. V., Brooklyn Rifles, under command of Colonel Stephen A. Dodge, left New York this evening for Washington, D. C. Before leaving, two magnificent silk flags were presented to the regiment by Major Kalbfleisch of Brooklyn, who addressed the men. Col. Dodge replied in a short speech.—N. Y. Herald, Dec. 4.
—The Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser has the following: Mr. Chas. B. May has erected buildings at Montgomery, Ala., suitable for the manufacture of all kinds of patent enamelled leather. He has succeeded in getting from the North, some time since, two or three workmen, who thoroughly understand the business, and who are said to be the best workmen in the country. He has all the necessary machinery and ingredients, and is going immediately into the manufacture on an extensive scale, of the article of patent leather, of any quality or color. This is something new in our new Confederacy; but, one by one, we are learning to ”paddle our own canoe,” independent of the blockades, and, ere long, we feel satisfied that every article usually brought from abroad will be made in our own country.
