From Washington

WASHINGTON, May 14.

The first bill reported by Mr. Elliott, from the special committee; provides that all the estate, property, and money, stocks, credit and effects of the person or persons hereinafter named are declared forfeited to the Government of the U. S., and are declared lawful subjects of seizure, and prize and capture, wherever found, for the indemnity of the U. S. against the expenses for suppressing the present rebellion, that is to say:

1.  Of any person hereafter acting as an officer in the army of navy of the rebels, now or hereafter in arms against the Government of the U. S.

2.  Any person hereafter acting as President, Vice President, member of Congress, Judge of any Court, Cabinet Officer, Foreign Minister, Commissioners or Consuls of the so-called Confederate States.

3d.  Any person acting as Governor of a State, member of convention or legislature, judge of any court of the so-called Confederate States.

4th.  Any person who having held an office of honor, trust or profit in the United States, shall hereafter hold an office in the so-called Confederate States, after holding any office or agency under the so-called Confederacy, or under any of the Several States of said Confederacy or laws, whether such office or agency be national, State, or municipal, in name or character.  Any person who holds any property in any loyal State or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia, who shall hereafter assist, or give aid or comfort, or countenance to such rebellion, the said estate, property or money, stock, credits and effects of the persons are declared lawful subjects of capture, wherever found, and the judges of the United States shall cause the same to be seized, to the end that they may be confiscated and condemned to the use of the United States, and all sales, transfers, or conveyances shall be null and void, and it shall be sufficient to any suit brought by such person for the possession and use of such property, to allege and prove that he is one of the persons described in this section.

The second section provides that if any person with any State or territory of the United States, other than already specified shall not within 60 days after public warning and proclamation by the President cease to aid or countenance and abet such rebellion, and return their allegiance, their property, in like manner, shall be forfeited for the use of the United States; all sales and transfers of such property, after the expiration of 60 days from the date of the warning , shall be null and void.

The third section provides that to secure the possession, condemnation and sale of such property, situated or being in any State, district or territory of the United States, proceedings shall be instituted in the name of the United States, in any District Court, or any Territorial Court, or in the U. S. District Court for the District of Columbia, in which the property may be found, or into which the same, if [movable], may be first brought,  which proceedings shall conform, as nearly as may be, to the proceedings in prizes cases or cases of forfeiture, arising under the revenue laws; and the property so seized and condemned, whether real or personal, shall be sold under the decree of the Court having cognizance of the case, and the proceeds deposited in the Treasure of the United States for their use and benefit.  The remainder of the sections provide the necessary machinery for carrying the act into effect.

The second bill of the select committee is as follows:  If any person or persons within the United States shall, after the passage of this act, willfully engaged in armed rebellion against the Government of the United States, or shall willfully aid or abet such rebellion, giving them aid and comfort; every such person shall thereby forfeit all claims to the service or labor of any persons commonly known as slaves and such slaves are hereby declared free and forever discharged from servitude, anything in the laws of the U. S., or any State to the contrary notwithstanding; and whenever thereafter any person claiming the labor or service of any such slave shall seek to enforce his claim, it shall be sufficient defense thereto that the claimant was engaged in said rebellion, or aided or abetted the same, contrary to the provisions of this act; whenever any person claiming to be entitled to the service or labor of any other person, shall seek to enforce such claim he shall in the first instance, and before any order shall be made for the surrender of the person whose service or labor is claimed, establish not only his claim to such service or labor, but also that such claimant had not in any way aided, assisted or countenanced the rebellion existing against the Government of the U. S.

WASHINGTON, May 14.

Tribune’s Special

The French Minister has received intelligence from his Consul at Richmond, to the effect that the rebel government had notified him that should it be necessary to evacuate the city, the French tobacco must be destroyed with the rest.  At the same time the rebels offered to pay for it – a proposition not much relished by the Frenchman.  The French minister discredits the rumor of European intervention in our affairs, and it is generally thought here, that whatever purposes may have been entertained by England and France, the news from New Orleans, will cause their indefinite postponement.

The 885 prisoners, recently released from the Richmond prisons, will arrive here by way of the Potomac to-morrow.  A few who came through Baltimore arrived to-day.  They say the rebels are as determined as ever, and believe that after the two great impending battles they will, if whipped bad, herd together in small guerilla parties, and fight to the very last.  They represent the treatment of our prisoners as barbarous in the extreme; that our officers, who alone remain in the prisons, all the privates being set free, will not be released at all.  Col. Corcoran’s health is good.  He is anxious to be released, and contradicts the statement made some time since, that he said he would prefer remaining where he is, believing that he could be of more service there, and adds that the only way he wishes to serve his country is on the battle field.  Col. Bowman’s health is failing rapidly, and his eyesight nearly lost.  He can survive his present treatment only a few weeks longer.  His long confinement has afflicted his mind so much, that at times he is looked upon as insane.  The rebels offer every inducement to our prisoners to join their army, but only two have done so; namely, John A. Wicks, quartermaster of the Congress, and a private of the 7th Ohio, named Wilson.  As soon as it became known to the prisoners that Wilson intended to desert them they proceeded to hang him.  The guard, however, entered and in time to cut him down before his life was extinct.  In punishment for this act, the prisoners were put upon bread and water for ten days.

The House committee on foreign affairs having authorized Mr. Gooch to report the Senate bill establishing diplomatic relations with Hayti and Siberia, it will doubtless be pressed to a vote at an early day.

Herald’s Dispatch.

WASHINGTON, May 14.

The steamer Kennebec arrived here this afternoon, with 213 wounded rebels and 24 wounded Union soldiers, from Williamsburg.  Among the latter is Col. Dwight. – His wounds are less dangerous than at first supposed.

The rebels receive precisely the same treatment as our wounded, and are sent to the same hospitals.

The report that Gen. McCall had resigned the command of the Pennsylvania reserve corps is unfounded.  He has no intention to resign until the Union army has accomplished its mission – to suppress the rebellion.

Times’ Dispatch.

Gov. Sprague says our losses at Williamsburg, in killed, wounded and missing, will amount to about 2000, and that the rebel loss was not less.  He says the battle at West Point, under Franklin was much more severe than reported.  That at least 500 of our men were taken prisoners – the enemy taking advantage of the landing of our troops.

The gunboats came up in good time, and saved Franklin from Suffering a sever disaster.

WASHINGTON, May 14.

It is ordered that all applications for passes to visit Ft. Monroe, Norfolk, Yorktown, or other places on the waters of the Chesapeake, be hereafter made to Mag. Gen. Dix, of Baltimore.

(Signed)

EDWIN M. STANTON,

Secretary of War.

In addition to the steamers Hero and Kent which brought hither the released Union prisoners last night, the Kennebec has arrived with upwards of 500 wounded rebels from Williamsburg.  These men are for the greater part slightly wounded, and are attended by rebel surgeons and nurses.  A strict guard is kept over this boat.  No visitors are permitted.

The steamer State of Maine has also arrived with about 330, the Warrior with 400, and Elm City with 450 sick soldiers, from different places.  They are being removed to the various hospitals today.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, May 16, 1862, p. 1