February 10.—George P. Hodges, of Kentucky, introduced the following preamble and resolution in the rebel House of Representatives, which was agreed to:
Whereas, information has reached this Congress of the passage by the Congress at Washington, D. C, of a bill for the enlistment of negroes as soldiers in the armies of the United States, which armies are to be engaged in the further invasion of the confederate States of America;
And whereas, the Constitutions both of the confederate States and the United States recognize Africans and their descendants as property;
And whereas, we cannot consent to any change in their political status and condition; therefore,
Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire into the expediency of bringing in a bill providing the proper forms for the disposition of all negroes or mulattoes who may be captured from the enemy in such manner that those of them who are fugitives from their masters may be returned to their rightful owners, and those for whom no masters can be found shall be sold into perpetual bondage, for the purpose of raising a fund to reimburse citizens of this Confederacy who have lost their slave property by reason of the interference therewith by the enemy.
—A fight took place at Old River, La., between a National force, under Captain T. Tucker of the First Kansas volunteers, and the First battalion of the Third regiment of Louisiana cavalry.—(Doc. 120.)
—A. D. Mahony, President of the “Prisoners of State Association,” published a notice calling upon “all such persons as had been arrested without charge, imprisoned without trial, and discharged from confinement on the mere order of Abraham Lincoln, or of some one of his subordinates, to convene on the fourth day of March next, in the city of New-York, for the purpose of devising, adopting, and putting into practical effect, such means as might be deemed best to obtain satisfaction for the outrages to which we, prisoners of state, have been subjected, and reparation done us in person and property, and for the further purpose of doing what becomes us as American patriots to preserve our Constitution and Government from total subversion, and the liberties of the people from subjection to arbitrary power.”
—Information was received at the War Department at Washington, that a party of loyal Delaware and Shawnee Indians, of Kansas, had taken the rebel Wachita agency in Texas, killed Leoper the agent, and captured a hundred disloyal Indians, together with a large number of horses, papers and rebel bonds. Among the papers were treaties made with the rebel government, and signed by Albert Pike. The party returned to Kansas, with the loss of four men.
