The Tri-Weekly Telegraph (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 29, No. 129, Ed. 1 Saturday, January 16, 1864 Page: 1 of 2
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THJi TKl-WEEKLY TELKGRArH
VOL. XXIX—NO. 12 9
HOUSTON SATURDAY JANUARY 16. 1864
WHOLE NO. S784
BY PON? EXPRESS.
Special to the Telegraph.
FROM ALEXANDRIA.
alexandria, Jan. 12,1864.
YANKEE DISPATCHES.
Washington, Dec. 11.—Gen. Rosecrans was to-day
assigned to the command of the department of the
Missouri, vice Schoflel' relieved.
Kansas Is erected Into a separate department, and
Gen. Curtis assigned to Its command.
Gen. Butler has beeu forma ly assigned to the duty
of exchanging prisoner*, vice Meredith relle«d.
This duty does not Interfere with the command of
his department. Exchanges It la said will be resum-
ed In a few days.
The first regular volunteers were exchanged a day
or two ago.
Richmond papers chronicle the arrival there of
John Morgan.
Secretary Chase has gone to New York to negotiate
another fifty million loan.
Congress wl'l adjourn by the middle of the week,
for the holiday's, and the draft will be postponed two
days. t
The Senate passed the twenty million sppropri
atlon bill for army bounties to-day, with but few
amendments, thus sending it baok to the House
Washington, Dec. 38.—Bat 80,000,000 of the
520 bonds remain unsold. The first notes of the
new national loan were put in oirculation here
last Saturday. The whole of Gen. Kllpatrlck's
cavalry division, and the Excelsior Brigade, have
re-enlisted for during the war. The rebels at-
tempted last night to destroy a bridge near Buck-
Bar's Station, on the Orange and Alexandria Rail
read,with a view to Interrupt Meade's communl
cation with Washington, but failed. Capt. Bon-
tolle, of the U. States coast survey, writes from
Charleston, that the obstructions in the harbor
there, consist of a double line of plies across the
channel from Plnkney to middle ground,|and
from thence to Fort Johnson. There is an open-
ing of 200 feet. The plies are driven In several
fathoms of water, can easily be demolished
by the rams, bnt the Waptaln says nothing will be
done until Dahlgren Is removed.
No credence is given h.-re to the report that
Longstreet had been surrounded and killed.
N«w York, Dec.22.—No person is now allowed
to leave this port as a passenger without receiv-
ing a passport from the Marshal of thj/i District.
The adoption of this stringent measure U to pre-
vent a repetition or the Chesapeake affair. Gen.
Sherman has arrived in Louisiana.
The Potomao army occupies the same position
since the reorossing of Hapidan. The rebels un-
der Lee have not changed their position it is be-
lieved.
Lee's army will winter at or near Hanover C.
H. The troops already there have commenced
constructing winter quarters.
Movements at Chattanooga were quiet with the
exception of the stir caused by the enrollment of
every cltissn from the North to cover the quota
of the draft.
Rebel news state that.the army of Gen Joe John-
ston is In motion. Ao advance has been made
by our foroes under Gen. Scammau in Western
Virginia. They took Lewisburg on the 12th, and
heid It at latest accounts.
On the evening of the 82d in New York, gold
closed at 521; sterling at 60i and cotton fell to 79
cents.
The above dlspatohes are from the New Orleans
Times of the 3d, which was loaned to me by Gen
Taylor, who Is now here In Alexandria.
later dispatches.
Mr. Thos. M. Simmons has just arrived from
New Orleans, en route to Texas, and has given
me the Pioayune of the 5th.
two'days later.
The following are its dlspatohes :
New York, Dec. 24.—A special dispatch bulle-
tined in this city by the Independent telegraph
line, says that Longstreet has Joined Lee, and
that the latter has crossed the Rapidan, Meade
falling back.
There have been aeveial skirmishes with Stu-
art's Cavalry.
The report of the frigate Ironsides and the
monitors being entangled in the obstructions In
Charleston harbor, is untrue. The monitor Le-
high, while on pioket duty near Fort Johnson, got
aground,and a rebel battery opened on her, do-
ing her considerable damage, when the other two
ironsides went to her assistance, and succeeded
in getting her off. The Lehigh was so badly dam-
aged by the fire of the rebel batteries, that the
Star of the South had to tow her to Hilton Head
for repairs. No one on board was injured.
Washington, Dec. 3.—Information received here
from Lordou, by the last steamer, states tbatall the
rebel rams In England have been ottered to the Eng-
lish at a certain price, and Lord Clarence Page on the
part of the English Admiralty, had wrltien to the
builder, stating no decisive answer could be given at
resent, but the project was before their Lordships
'or consideration.
Boston, Dec. 24.—A private letter, dated Madras,
Oct. 27th, says Shaw A Co. have rocelved orders from
cape i'own to advance 10,000 rupees to the Alabama,
ai.d they have a large number of letters awaiting ner
arrival, which is how daily expected.
Washington^Dec. 24.—Instructions have Seen sent
by Secretary Welles to the commanding officers of
the different navy yards to have fleet vessels ready to
take their positions at New York, Boston, Philadel-
phia, Baltimore and other Important port* for the
purpose of carrying out their new regulations relative
to passports for vessels and passengers.
Cairo, Dec, 24.—It Is said that guerrillas under
Murray and Pavne, who bave been committing de-
predations In West Tennessee, gathered all their
forces together and crossed tn« Big Uatchle last Sat-
urday. Thtee hundred rebel envairy are stationed at
Cassvllle, Haywood county, subsisting ou the scanty
allowance of hte Inhabitants.
Forres' is levying contributions of provisions and
forage from al 1 the farmers In the county. It is re-
poued and generally believed that Gen. Polk Is to
supercede Gen. Holmes In Arkansas.
There seems to be a sufficient quantity of corned
beef and pork In the rebel lines, tout clothing sup-
plies are almost entirely exhautted. Many women
are compelled to cut up carpets for dresses for their
children.
The troops were armed with double barrelled shot
gnns. A few of them have Coil's repeaters, but no
Mbre6.
Last evening rsports reached Paducah that the
rebels under Forrest were within a few miles of
that city 4000 or 5000 strong.
eusrent for a few days past that Foster had Joined
Faulkner near Jackson, Tennessee, and that
their oomblned force numbers 1,500 to 2000.
Chattanooga, Dee. 25 — Nine soldiers were
captured to day between here and Harrison by
Wheeler, who scours the country on the line of
the road td Knoxvllle, tearing down Union flags,
conscripting Unionists an& picking up stragglers
The Unionists are much alarmed.
Washinoton, Deo. 24.—Mr. Blow of Missouri,
will introduce at an early day, a bill in the House
rovidlng for emancipation through the United
protected by four monitors. Our batteries and
unboats opened a heavy fire, when the barges
*" *" — i has
J*
fo
States and a systematic management of abandon
ed estates in the North.
H. P.
Alexandria, January 13, '64
During the last twelve days a large number or
Yankee troops have gone down the Mississippi
river to New Orleans. Look out for them in Tex
as. Parties who have just arrived from New Or
leans, saj that when they left, cotton was selling
for thirty-three and one-half cents In gold, or
ifty-five cento in Greenbacks. Confederate mon-
ey is worth 25 oents there. Red River is rising
slowly at this point A big rise is reported at
Shreveport,another still above there.
CONFEDERATE DISPATCHES.
Bristol, Dec. 22.—Oar latest advices from the
front represent our troops a Jew tulles beyond
Bean's station, and aotlve operations going on.
Confederate cavalry were skirmishing with the
enemy beyond Regersville.
There are numerous reports to the effect that
the main body of the enemy has gone to Clinton,
Tenn. Indications are unfavorable to a contin-
uation of hostilities during the month.
Oranor O. H., Dec. 22.-Quiet leigns supreme
on the Rapidan. The enemy have sent another
eorps of lnffcntry, making two now wintering be-
hind the Rappahannock, and three this side of
that river. Meade's headquarters are at Brandy
Station. Warrenton is occapled by a brigade oi
the enemy's cavalry. The enemy are hugging
the railroad closely. _
Charleston, Deo. 8!.—Six shells were thrown
into the city tost night. Early this morning se ve
rwl Yankee bargee were diseovered within two
hundred yards of Sumter, taking soundings, and
g . .
left. Nothing of importance to day. There
been no firing on the part of the enemy. Our
batteries have kept up a slow Ore on the enemy's
working parties. The fleet remains at about the
usual position.
YANKEE NEWS.
The following Yankee news is found In ths
Cbickago Times of the SSd. It is not as Ute as
some reoeived yesterday.
A dispatch from Charlsston, dated the 18th
states that the Ironsides and three monitore had
become entangled among the obstructions which
were reported reeently to have been swept away.
The Ironsides It Is said will probably bave to be
abandoned, and two of the other vessels are seri-
ously disabled
An Intelligent contraband reports that the reb
els are sending all the reinforcements possible to
Gen Lee for the purpose of making an attack up-
on the army of the Potomac. It Is reported that
Longstreet's army Is in a trap, and that Gen
Longstreet was killed In a recent ac ion. The re
ports are destitute oTconflrmation.
There are rumors also itut a force of Federals
have.cut the railroad running from Richmond to
Atlanta and Dalton, severing the communication
of Bragg and Longstreet with the rebel Capital
The railroad between Murfreesboro and Nash-
ville has been torn up by rebels, skirmishing is
in progress between the forces of Foster and
Longstreet.
The draft has been postponed for twenty days.
A long protest has been made by various Govern-
ors against the repeal of the three hundred ex-
emption clause, and It Is thought that the Senate
committee, instead of striking it out entirely, will
Increase the amount so five hundred dollars.
Committees have been appointed by the Dem
ocratic Congressmen, to confer with the Dem-
ocratic National Committee, as to the time and
place of holding the next Democratic National
Convention, and te arrange the order of business
for the Democratic members of the national leg-
islature. _
Gen. Schofield Is to be relieved by Gen. Rose-
crans, and Geu. Cnrtis is to have a new com-
mand, the President being satisfied as to his hon-
esty so far as cotton Is concerned.
There is a pressure at Washington for the remo
val of the Secretary of the Navy, and also to have
Gen. MoClernand mustered out of the service
The archbishop of Mexico, having insisted upon
the restoration of the church property, aud encoun-
tering a refusal, excommunicated the French army
from General Bazarlne down, and closed the doors of
the Cathedral against them. A French officer sur-
rounded the bulldiug with three thousand troops and
leveled cannou against It, demanding admittance.
The doors were opened, and the archbishop officiated
In the subsequent services.
STbe Spaniards are making progress In San Domingo,
a id it Is considered likely that the rebellion will soon
be subdued. H. P.
FROM SHREVEPORT.
Shreveport, Deo. 13.
The N. Y. Times of the 24th, at Gen. Price's
headquarters, states that, as Meade was making
an a J vanes to establish winter quarters, Deo. 23d,
Lee attacked him and d.ove him baek with heavy
loss.
I take the following dispatches from the South-
western of to-day.
Richmond, Dec. 23.—A private dispatch from
Union, dated yesterday, says: The Yankees have
not been here. Averill is reported to have passed
White Sulphur Springs on the 20th,on his return.
He was badly worsted. It is reported one of his
largest regiments (the 14th Pennsylvania) was
cut off.
Oranoe C. H., Dec. 23.—Some few prisoners
captured near Warrenton Junction, were brought
up here to-day. They report all quiet in their
lines.
Richmond, D. c. 23.—Most of the day in the
Houss was soent in discussing the bill to putmen
in the service who have heretofore furnished sub-
stitutes. The deepest interest was manifested by
the members from first to last. Varioasamend-
ments were proposed: one that all who now have
sufficient substitutes in the servloe, or whose sub-
stitutes have died or been disabled in the line of
duty, shall be exempt for one year from the time
thesubstltnte entered the army; another preventing
pensation, Ac., [meaning doubtful.] These were
voted down, and the bill as amended and passed
is as follows:
" Whereas, In the present circumstances of the
country it requires the aid of all who are able to
bear arms: The Congress of the Confederate
States of Amerioa do enaot, that no person shall
be exempted from military service owing to the
of his having furnished a substitute : Provided,
that nothing In the foregoing clause ebe.ll be so
construed as to relieve the substitute from any
obligation or liability contracted or assumed by
him as such substitute ; but this act shall not be
so construed as to affect persons who, though not
liable to render military duty, have, neverthe-
less, put in substitutes."
This bill was adopted by a vote or 52 to 13, A
motion to reconsider was voted down by a very
large majority.
The House passed a bill, agreed to by the Sen
ate yesterday, to pay the Provisional Govern-
ments Kentuoky one million dollars to clothe
the Kentucky soldiers. This bill awaits the Pre-
sident's approval.
The Senate bill to protect members from pass-
port agents, was voted down, 29 to 26.
In the Senate, the bill to allow termers to pay
the potatoe tax In money, passed, and awaits the
President's signature
The Military Committee reported back the bill,
heretofore referred to them, to repeal the act au-
thorizing the destruction of property a* a mili-
tary necessity, with the recommendation that It
do not pass. It w as placed on the calendar.
The President sent the Senate a communication
from the Secretary of War, in response to the in
quiry as to who is now filling the offloe of Quar-
termaster Gsneral, which elicited a lengthy
speech, somewhat severe on the President, for
appointing Gen. Lawton to that office, oharglng
that it was without autho rlty of law.
Bristol,Dec. 23.—Our forces ire still around
Rogersville and Morristown. Cannonading was
heard there Sunday evening.
Longstreet was nnable to follow up his advance
in consequence of the large number of barefooted
men In his command.
The weather is oold, and the mountains are
oovered with snow
Charleston, Dec. S3.—All to quiet at Port
Sumter. There has been no firing on the part of
the enemy tor the past 34 hours. Port Moultrie
has kept up a steady fire on the working parties
at battery Gregg.
Some changes are being made both on Gregg
and Wagner, the nature of which has not trans
pired.
The fleet remains inactive; the number of ves-
sels about the same.
Our gunboats bave been practicing to-day, and
did some fine shooting.
Columbia, S. C., Deo. 23.—Gen. John Morgan
passed through this city this evening. He walked
to Walhalla, S. C., and came thence by rail.
FROM BONHAM.
Bonham, January 8, 1864.
ftfiter Telegraph—In my letter Of the S7th
ult., in relation to the Indian raid, your types
make me say '•Col. James Burleson," instead oi
that sterling old patriot of the Red River Valley,
Col. James Bourland ; and as mortally wound-
ed, Patton, instead of Parker.
By the way, speaking of Burleson, that nume
rous family, extending from (Buncombe county,
North Carolina, through Tennessee, Missouri,
Alabama and Arkansas, to Texas, has never had
but five Christian names among them, to-wlt:
Id.. Jo., Aaron, John and Jonathan. I believe
that up to 1846, there were but eight Jo. Burle-
sons In Texas. There was narry Jeemes that I
ever heard toll of.
From Christmas to this day, thirteen days, we
have had bad weather- The first three or four
were cold and wet. There csme snow and sleet,
and the severest freeae I ever saw in the State.
The thermometer was several times down to
within four degrees of sero. Some were muoh
lower, but this was a standard Instrument. For
aa entire week this extreme cold eontlnued. To-
day the sun shines, but It Is still o-jld, with soms
snow and plenty of lee on the ground. I bave
heard of no casualties ; but the loss among stock
must be heavy, while many persona en the roads
must have suffered greatly.
This spell has checked travel about entirely.—
We,therefore, have no news from anv quarter.
General 8teele, reoently relieved of duly in his
lste field, is here.
I regret to learn tbat Col. B. Warren Stone,
h<s resigned. He entered the servlee early in
1861, at the head of tbat noble old regiment,
6th Texas cavalry, now oomuianded by the gal-
lant Rom. In Missouri and Aakansas. I was an
eyewitness to the energy, gallantry and ability
of Col. Stone. At Farmlngton, near Corinth, he
sustained the same character.
With his conduct in the late Louisiana cam-
paign,! am not acquainted. Ho has raised near-
ly three regiments of soldiers f<<r our cause, and
commanded two of them. The loss of such a
man to the service is to be regretted.
The message or President Davis, only two
ooples of which have reaohed here, has been ex-
tensively read in groups. No State paper with-
in my recollection, has met with a more heart
felt eulogy. Suoh a dooument from the illustrl
ous CnlerMagistrate or our beleaguered country
—breathing such ao elevated tone of moderation
under such a oulmlnation of wrongs, both on the
parlor our infamous enemies as well asungen
erous conduct on the part of the British Ministry,
must receive profound attention in Europe. The
more that is seen of the character and mind ot
Jefferson Davis, the more palpable is it that in
him we have one of the purest of men, a profound
Statesman and a great christian warrior. Mo
man of this generation I humbly ooncelve, has
these rare qualities in higher combination. Gen-
erations unborn will speak his name but to praise.
It is wonderful that oavlling at his oourse and
his Inability to accomplish impossibilities Is not
greater. Washington met with greater opposi-
tion than does God preserve the patriot
to us for man
snington
B.
TEXA^'h'filUM OF INTEREST.
From the Henderson Times.
We are pleased to learn that a great many of
those who have been engaged In carrying on dls
ttllerlesln this county, have diseontlnued slnoe
the late liquor tow bas come out. Whatever de-
feots may be In the law, It Is very evident it was
intended to put a quietus to the distilling ofgrain
as a matter of speculation, and it is the duty of all
who regard the public will, to discontinue, unless
it be for the purpose of manufacturing a limited
quantity for medioal purposes.
The Viotoria Advocate has various and sundry
Items which we copy:
On th6 recent raid of the Yankees to Lavaca,
the following Individuals took the occasion to
leave and retire to " Abraham's bosom": Dr. F.
E Hughes, Rev. McRae, pastor of a church In La-
vaca who occasionally " held forth" in Victoria;
Dr. (?) Rosencranz, and—McKee,quondam mer-
chant of Lavaca. We have no sympathy for the
traitors, and hold them up to the scorn of the true
and faithful. We congratulate our sister town
on being rid of these blots on her social surface.
We have seen a oopy of the "Horn Extra,"
published by our Yankee neighbors at Indlanola.
It is printed on a half sheet of oap, with the ma-
terials left by our deceased friend Yanoey. Here
are a few items :
To fill up a column they use an old advertise-
ment of H. Runge <& Co., and notice it as fol-
lows :
"See advertisement of Rhine Wine in another
column. Where's Runge 7 As the folks say In
Cincinnati, we guess that he's (bravely) 'over the
Rhine.'
We are astonished at a queer fact in regard to
our new location, 1. e , the entire abseace of the
'unbleached' American. A: new feature In towns
of this magnitude in'Dixie.' Have learned how-
ever, ihatall the'colored population,' and a few
gentlemen in 'yaller,' emigrated recently under
the chilling influence of the recent Norther."
Gen. Fltz Henry Warren bas Issued stringent orders
against straggling and marauding by the soldiers of
bis command. 0 mmlssloned officers will be held
responsible lor the conduct of their men. A good or-
der. It Is not our purpose to molest defenceless ln
habitants. Our business is with armed rebels. The
Qeneral Commanding will see to all the wants of the
soldier, through the regular military channel.
Our visit to this beautiful town was sudden, unex-
pected and unceremonious, but none the less pleas-
ant—In fact we like It amazingly for the short ac-
quaintance: have had some solemn thoughts of "set-
tling down" right here "when tnls cruel war Is over."
Our facetious friend may "settle dowu" perma-
nently before the war Is over.
The Advocate says:
Since the raid of the Yankees to Lavaca, we have
heaid nothing further ot their doings. No one suf-
fered from their visit there, we believe, except Capt.
Bradbury, whore property they used pretty roughly.
At Chocolate bridge they acted In a villainous mau.
ner. They entered the house of Mr. Norrls, whose
wife and children were at home, and destroyed eve-
rything In tne shape of food, maliciously cutting up
the furniture, bedding, Ac. If tno or three hundred
good men had been there, the rascals wou id have
aad other work to attend to lustead of a war on wo-
men and children.
the property holder and the holder of surplus
currency, the former paying the tax and the totter
seeking the advantage of it from the enhanced
value of that surplus.
Thus a tow framed In s'rlct accordance with
equity and justice, and endorsed by constitutional
sanction, by the operation of exigent circum-
stances, If oarrl<*d Into effeot, uotonly contra-
venes its own purposes, but works out a manifest
absurdity and inequality. Insomuch that it is
rendered inconsistent with Itself and with Its own
terms.
Thus without any "legislative device," has it
beea shown tbat the President's favored method
of taxing the currency dlreotly. Is the only one
tbat oan be carried into effect with equality and
justice, and that the taxation oan be equalised
without a resort to the hypothesis tbat the money
would have to be distributed in the ratio of everv
man's means, in order that its burthens might
fall equally on all.
The great mistake made In the message Is that It
treats taxation as a niea.-ure of revenue. Instead ot
one for the simple reduction of currency. This Idea
of the abs.iption of the currency to a given standard
by taxation, holds a prominent place in tbls position
of the messa ge; yet when it comes to apply to it the
-upposed adju tment< of equality of bu>then, aa In
taxation tor reveuue. It seems to have been Inst tight
ol—hence we have the confu-lou resulting foul the
application of a plan of revenue to a matier which
ha uot nor ought to have any such object lu view.
A memorable Instance occurs in the early 'eglsla-
llorr of the veneraole old Dominion, which so happl-
lv Illustrates this subject and Is so analogous to it lu
all Its bearing that I ca.inot forbear to recite It.
It must be remembered at this period of herhlsto-
ry (1634) that money as a medium of circulation and
standard ol value was entirely prohibited by law aud
tobacco took Its place. But at this time the produc-
tion being greatly In excess of consumption the leg*
islature Immediately took the matter In hand and de-
clared "Tobacco by reason ot excessive quantities
made, being so low tbat planters could not subsist by
it; therefore It was enacted that the tobacco of that
year be viewed by sworn viewers,and the rotten and
unmeichantable and half the good be burned. So the
whole quantity made would come to oue million Ave
hundred pounds, without stripping and smoothing,
and the next two years one hundred and seventy
pounds per pole, stripped and smoothed was to be
made, which would make In the whole, about one
million three hundred thousand pounds."
Thus was the depreciation ot the currency arrested
and by salutary restrictions upon new Issues, brought
back to Its normal standard of value, nor was this
done by any adjustment of burthen, but by a simple
process of destruction of the overplus of currency
Just as It was found In the hands ot the people, and
thus should ours be treated. (GRIMES.
January 13lh, 1864.
THE CRISIS AND THE CRUCIBLE.
What we are, we know, so far as we know any-
thing ; what we may be Is unknown. Somethings
we sre, and some we may be. But all depends
upon the present; and there is no time to lose.
The now of It Is all. And all is now at stake.
Our foe eyer misled by lying prophets, have
passed from one lie to another, from the discov-
ery or one shameless lie to the embraoe or the
next, as a refuge and a goal. No experience of
" dupism" guards them frem new duping,and no
discovery of lies eaves them from new victimising
liars, the latest lie belngeven the lyinglst,and
the succeeding deception being the silliest and
funniest. Once for all. the latest lie must be met
and unmasked. The latest deceptlen must be an-
nihilated, or new lies will harm us as much and
them more. Wo'owe it to ourselves, to them, to
the world of nations, to the universe, and to God
They began with the abolition lies and Its prog
SDy of lies, told and acted In the face of humanity
revelation and heaven. The history of the war
showed that we were as safe after they had bidden
knives " to work" as before : that peace, quiet
and contentment reigned in servitude, where the
" heavenly mission" worked its wonders of love
and power, and only felt thrall and woe and dis-
content, when lying deliverers rushed in; and
a half million untimely graves roar a tornado
chorus of hoarse exeoratlon after the gorgeous-
self-styled '• helpers'* of ruin and woe, all sound*
ing out the lyingness of the lie of lies. When, ar-
ter waiting in breathless and half relenting ter<
ror from day to day, to see the lurid blase of a
million hearthstones, and to hear ten million
shrieks come storming baok as responses to their
philantrophio message to us; they at length ap-
plied the torch themselves, and began the murder-
ing, raping and devastating, believing fully in
victims, defenceless and ■polled, and speak oak
speak to lie stunned ears u« final word. Speak
It. so that even the deaf stupor of friends
hear, and the dead oalloslly of foe men shall wa-
ken. Speak the flnal word—We will be free, er
This 1 this is the want of our day. Thto to the
crisis, and we are tn the crucible. Let meetioca
be held with the flrelook on the shouldtr. Let
soldiers speak, resolve end do lu camp. Let the
foe k now that w* wtil it free r die I
.hlr!® . l'VDd the laet, will perish on
.A' . ps' au<* 'D tb* name, and by the help
or God, suffer as wu may—nay, suffer long m wo
may, we will aarkBBl •
the row He that we would yield our princlpl
our liberties and our honor at the altar of o
Communicated.
A COMMENT
Upon that portion of the President's Message
whloh treats of our Flnanoes, and the Mode
of Taxation by which our bills of credit are
to be reduoed to a healthy standard.
We quote from the Message the following par-
agraph with a view to oomment:
" It may be added, that. In considering this
subject, the people ought steadily to keep in
view that the Government, in contracting debt, is
but their agent; that its debt is their debt. As
the currency is held exclusively by ourselves, it
is obvious that if each person held treasury notes
in exact proportion to the value of his whole
means, each would in fact owe himself the amount
or the notes held by Aim; and were it possible to
distribute the currency among the people In this
exact proportion, a tax levied on the currency
alone, to an amount sufficient to reduce it to
proper limits, would afford the best of all reme-
dies. Under suoh circumstances, the notes re-
maining in the hands of each holder, after the
payment of his tax, w >nid be worth quite as muoh
as the whole sum previously held; for it would
purchase at least an equal amount of commod-
ities. This result cannot be perfectly attained by
any device of legislation, but it can be approxi-
mated by taxation. A tax on all values has for
its effect, not only to Impose a due share of the
burthen on the note bolder, but to force those who
have few or none of the notes, to part with i
share of their possessions to those who hold the
notes in excess, in order to obtain the means of
satisfying the demand of the tax gatherer. This
is the only mode by which it is practicable to
make all contribute as equally as possible in the
burthen wbioh all are bound to share, and it Is
for this reason that taxation adequate to the pub-
lic exigencies, under our present circumstances,
must be the basis of any funding system or other
remedy for restoring stability to our finances."
Let us for a moment examine the practical work-
ings of this scheme with referenoe to Use^ual
or untqual bearing upon the two classes of tax
payers, viz: The property holder and note holder.
It is admitted in the above paragraph tbat the
currency would appreciate In the precise ratio or
Its absorption; therefore, If of one half it was ab-
sorbed by taxation, the remaining half would be
precisely equal In value to the whole. This be-
ing granted It follows as a direct carrollery that
a tax levied upon tbls species of value exclusive-
ly in this or any other proportion, when paid,
would leave the taxpayer as rlob as he was be-
fore; he having by this process merely scaled off
this amouu; of depreciation from what remains In
his hands.
This then it seeins, Is the only equitable mode or
taxation, since its payment Involves no loss of
value to any one; whereas, a tax on property
would operate very unequally, as between a note
helder and property holder, since the latter, 11
not possessed of a sufficient amount to satisfy
the demands or the tax o jllector, would have to
parWwlth a portion of bis chatties to procure it,
and to this extent would suffer loss, which would
inure to the benefit of the former or note holder,
since every dollar absorbed would tell favorably
upon his surplus of this species of value.
We ean here assert with propriety, the extra-
ordinary paradox, that any law whloh proposes te
equalise by taxation the burthens of Govern
ment, by levying It upon property equally—the
only constitutional mode known to the laws by
which to collect revenue, Is unconstitutional, be-
cause it creates Inequality of burthen between
our
fears.
When this lie was unmasked, and tenfold fervor
arose instead of the tame friend they hoped to
wake ; the starvation lie rose upon the lips of
their prophets. Destroy I destroy; they cried;
and implements and fruits of husbandry disap-
peared In their horrid traoks; butlo! a teeming
soil fills our storehouses to bursting—many sec-
tions supplying each as much as all the rest re-
quire ; and, occasionally lack, shotting the gen-
tleman with his poor neighbor, slike determined,
though " parched corn'' alone comforts " the
mess." That lie died.
Divide and conquer: " separate by the great
river, and weakuess will subjugate," was a favor-
ite lie ; for behold each side r ses up more able
and determined by the disaster, while a highway
to death and destruction to the dupes is that same
Mississippi. The Bible gives "line upon line,
line upon line." The foe gives lieupen lie, lie
upon lie ; differing in one thing, the Bible adds
" here a little and there a little. Yankee reve-
lation adds here much and there muoh.
The latest lie Is foremost of thorn all, anrf the "fool-
Ishest." That a proclamation oi pardon for the
common sol Her and loweroliicers, together with non-
combatants, Imbeciles and traitors will end their ago-
ny, and begin oursliauie. Kyi Abe Lincoln, what
lie Is this? Pardon, lor being men and not truculent
cowards ; tn tt, and not consign our families to shame,
and our very n.im« to Infamy ? What! pardon forde-
fendl'.g "the rigiits Ot people to choose their own
form of government," and the principle tbat "al'
right of government Is by the consent of the govern-
ed?" What! pardon for de'endlug our homes aud our
altars,our country and our reilgljn? What! pardon
for resisting the lieudlsh fellowship and union sought
to be Imposed upon us as a sequel of a thousand rav-
ished homes and ten thousand noble patriots murder-
ed by their cruel war, and by low-ored fauatlces and
hired foreign bloody mercenaries? Wuat! a pardon!
avauntl loulllen.il Pardon thy dastard, thief, wo-
man trampler, grave-exnumlng hvena and murdsred
Butler, and cold, gorgon-souled McNIel, thy miserable
elf! Fy! shrive th^ m and thy tesHi-r workers lu this
hellish plot ! Sue II thy pardon saves!
Are Yankees no utterly beiylng and beduped as to
suppose we would believe either bis proclamation or
his oath? A perjured villain lu every act ot the war,
Iroui the very first, as he made oaih to support that
constitution, now no more! Does Old Abe, do Euro-
pean nations dr am that we would trust our liberties
aud hopes to the promlie or oath of a covenant-
breaking race ol mad fanatlcsand cruel, bloody-thhsty
tyrants, who have trampled their own liberties In the
Hunt and reared low, Ignoble, mean aLd huge but
yet petty despotism oi< their rulus!
Tbls Is the crisis for weak knees and sickly coward-
Ice. for driveling rmbecllttv to show ltselt. For mean
spirits who are rools enough to think that either Yau -
kee despots will grant them as their compatriots, pei-
mlt them to receive puruou aud property saved at
the hands of our betrayers and spoilers ? No neoer!
hsvkr! vur foes may spoil us, aud craven, truckllug
money-worshippers, dastards, may be willing to sell
their liberties, their honor and their country for their
paltry part of the Uod-given heritage; but he Is stark
mad who can suppose tbat the spoiler shall ever reap
the spoil, or the blood-barWlng traitors shall receive
the prices of their coveting!
What we now ought to do, mast do. Is to disabuse
the foe, once and forever, of their foollab hope lu lies,
tbls last lie of lies particularly. Speak out! ye glo-
rious women of the South, with myriad voices!
apeak ! with the drawn stlllelo aud the loaded pistol
by your side, and In your bands! Speak! ye boys, the
hope of our race, with tbe big mansheart, with kulfe,
and axe, and gun 1 Speak! ye old men, with the rea
kindled Urea of youth burning with the beat of Texas,
Alamo, and of '76! Speak with a tbuud r tbat shall
shake the spheres and topple mountains down!
Let the troops in the field speak 1 war-scarred
heroes of a thousand battles—speak, ye brave
doers I The world of nations is looking on your
doings as the tost hope of earth. Speak 1—the
blood of your brothers is calling to vou from Ma-
nassas and Cedar Mountain, from Woodsonville
and Fort Donnelson, from Perryvllle and Oak
Hill, from Belmont and Hhlloh, from Corinth and
Murfreesboro, from Chickasaw Bayou and Elk
horn, from . Vicksburg and Chickamauga, from
Sharpsburg and Gettysburg, from daines' Mills
and Galveston, from the filthy prison ships and
prisons of their robbers and murderers, from
ravished wives and daughters, from the ashes of
your homes and the homeless wilds .whither the
foe has driven them. Soldiers 1 hear this unl
ted chorus of the murdered dead and the living
From the News.
LKTTKK FROn MEXICO.
,, . , Pisdkas Neoras. Jan. 1,1n4.
President Juarei and bl< Oabiuet 1 ft San Luis po«
tost on ihe 2id ult., en mute for Saltlllo In the State
of New L on. Gov. Vtdaurrlbas been and Is quite
sick since be received the news, and the merchants
lu Monterey are trembling lu their boots. With a dim
vlslou of the system of forced losns and contribu-
tions, which ^ems to have characterized tbe admin-
istration of the very patriotic and eminent leader of
the Liberal Party, Henor Juares.
Toe French are, by this time, In possession of San
Luis Pot >si.
The Mexican army, nnder Gen. Uraga, has sought
retuge in the State ct Leon. The M xlcans are quite
demoralized and unable to offer a succes-fUl resistance
to the victorious Invader,
The condition of aftalrs In Matamoros remain un-
changed. A battle Is dally expected to take place be-
tween the troops or Gov. Ruiz and those led by the
bandit Uortlna. The latter holds the olty, and Is aided
by the Yankees. Governor Ruiz caused, a few days
ago, fourteen of Cortlna's men to be shot. The for-
mer Is supported bv PreslJent Juarez, who Is every
day becoming more and more disgusted with the
policy of President Lincoln.
Gov. Serna and others have promised to pronounce
for the French Intervention, and that Is the reason
u hy Matamoros bas not been occupied by French
troops. The arrival of Maxlmllllan, who Is expeoted
there some time In Februau, will, however, bring
matters to an Issue, both with the United States and
tbe Mexicans on this frontier-
The vessel captured by the Frenoh steamer
whloh blockaded Matamoros, a few months ago,
has been.released at Vera Crus. She bad a cargo
of arms, and was consigned to the house of Hale
& Co., of Matamoros. Mr. Moloney to one of the
firm, and said arms were delivered to him through
his brother-in-law, John O'Sullivan, who aeted aa
his agent.
Since the arrival of the Yankees on the Klo
Orande, the contractors aud speculators have be-
come quite alarmed. An Englishman by the name
or Attrel, and an Irishman,'.called in Monterey,
Patricio Milmo, who Is said to be Gov. Vldaurrl's
son-in-law, have been seising all cotton belong-
ing to the Government to pay themselves for sup-
plies and articles of war furnished the Confeder-
acy. There Is no doubt but that they have been
advlssd to do so by some of the quartermastere'
agents, now In Tamaullpas and New Leon. One of
them Is known to be a partner of Mllmo. These
miscreants who care more for their pookets than
for the suocess of the Confederacy, are doing all
in their power to stop tbe trade. Hew little they
dream tbe day of retribution is drawing nigh 1
Mr. Harris and family, of New Orleanst Messrs.
Norton and Mrs. Norton, of San Antonio, and 8.
M. Swenson, of Austin, Texas, are In Monterey.—
The totter has thrown off tils mask, and is olam-
orous for our subjugation. The other gentlemen
are friendly to us. More anon.
PICKWICK.
HCABqOARTBRMASTER's OrricsJ
San Antonio,Texas, Dec.31,'03. {
The following order of Col. John 8. Ford, coin-
commander of oonsorlpts, is published for the
Imformatlon of all whom It may conoern :
ileadqoarters conscript service, (
Austin,Nov. 20,1803. 5
Any oonscrlpt teamster who shall leave the
service of Major Hart, Q. M.,C. S. A., without
being relieved from duly by him, is guilty of de-
sertion, and can be punished accordingly. Any
teamster who sball persuade, entice, or hire a
conscript teamster to quit the service for which
lie has been detailed, without permission, Is sub-
jeot to punishment as an alder and abettor of de-
sertion. JOHN 8. FORD,
Col. and Commander of Conserlpts.
The Agents of this offloe are dlreoted to prompt-
ly report any and every violation of the foregoing
order. S. HART,
MaJ or and Quartermaster.
December 20—twSmos
Headquarters, District or Texas,)
Naw Mexico and Aribona, >
Houston, January Sih, ISM, )
General Orders, No. 5.
I. All men belonging to the Confederate
States Provisional Army, detailed or employed as
teamsters in the transportation of ootton, will re-
join their respective oommands without the
slightest delay.
Officers, contractors, and others, having sueh
msn in their employ, will see that this order is
promptly obi-yed.
II. No exemptions from impressment of ne-
groes will herealter be made exoept by speolal
orders <rom these headquarters, or by the Chief
of the Labor Bureau, to whom all appllcatlone for
exemption will be made, and no Impressments of
slaves will be made exoept by the Labor Bureau
or by special orders from these Headquarters.
ill. Hereafter the proportion of hospital
nurses will be one to every ten patients; and
commanding officers of regiments, battalions and
unattached companies in this District, will forth-
with forward to these headquarters a list of the
men of tbeir commands most delicate and unfit lor
fiold service, from whom details lor nurses will
be made. Details for this purpose will be made
from negroes, ou applloatiui to the Labor Bureau t
where suitable nurses oan be found.
IV. Cotton and other supplies, publio or pri-
vate, can be transported over the railroads by
permits, to be obtainel from Capt. J. K. Garey, A.
Q. M., at Houston, in chargo of transportation,
whenever the same does uot Interfere with the
transportation of troops and supplies. Ail per-
sons are notified that cotton oau be transported
across the Uio Grande via Han Antonio and Eagle
Pass.
V Mr. J.O. Ililngsworth, exempt from mill-
tarv servioe, is hereby assigned to duty as Volun-
teer A. D. C., on the staff of the Major General
commanding, and will be obeyed and respected
accordingly- By command of
aocoraiug r / ^ j B (JAGRUDIR.
S txpuen D. Yamcey, A. A. A. General.
Usaikiuartirs, District or Tsxas, 1
New Mexico aud Arizona, J
Houston, Jan. IS, 180t.
Special Orders No. 13-
Paragraph I, ■ f General Orders No. 5, published
above, Is so modified us to read as follows s
"All iuoq belouglug to til© Oouledorat© titatas Pro-
visional Army lu tuls District, (except unatngnta
(Junucnpti,) detailed or employed as teamsters lu tue
transportation of Cotton, will rejoin tbeir respective
commands without the slightest delay. Those actu*
ally ou the road with Cotton, will contlaue w.tn it to
the point of destluatlou. before reporting to tueir
commands. „ _
• • e e e e e
By command of
MsJ. Gen. MAGRUDER.
S. D. Yaxcbt, A. A. G. JaU tw 21
Headquarters, Disr.or Texas, )
Nsw Mexico A.Arisora, >
Houston,Texas,Jan. 13,1804. )
General Orders, No. 6.
C -uiiuanding officers, and all Quartermasters
and tu ir agents, are hereby strictly prohibits J
from interfering, In any manner, with tbe eorn
wbioh has been purohased for the Subsisteuce
Department which has been shelled and sacked
When Depots have been established, Quarter-
masters will use due dllllgenoe In keeping u?
tbe supplies, and will not Interfere with the oorn
for the Commissary Department, as It Is abso-
lutely necessary to Insure subsistence for the
army. By command of
Maj.-Oen. J.b. magruder.
W. A. Alstqh, a. A. Q. [Janl4-lw2t]
HOUSE AND LOT FOR SALE.—In a pleasant part
or tbe city within four blocks of the Oourt House,
tbe bouse is a new one, with a front gal Wry new cis-
tern and plenty of water, five roomsjn the bouse.
Apply to A. B. HaTTON,
jais 3t 0a the premises.
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Cushing, E. H. The Tri-Weekly Telegraph (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 29, No. 129, Ed. 1 Saturday, January 16, 1864, newspaper, January 16, 1864; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth236633/m1/1/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.