Specials to the New York Papers

(Tribune’s dispatch.)

WASTHINGTON, May 5. – The Select committee of the House on confiscation and emancipation has instructed its chairman Mr. Elliott, to report two bills, the first of which is agreed to by Noel of Mo., as well as by Elliott, Hutchins, Beaman, and Sedgwick, but opposed by Mallory of Ky. and Cobb of New Jersey, confiscates all the property real and personal of the leading class of rebels embracing somewhat more than are covered by Senator Sherman’s bill, who shall continue in rebellion after the passage of the bill, by another section property of all other rebels who continue such sixty days after the passage of the bill to share the same fate, the President is to seize the property but the courts are to [institute] proceedings, the claims of loyal creditors are made [hence] upon the property taken.  The other bill which only the republican members of the committee, a bare majority approve, immediately upon its passage the slaves of all rebels to be free.  Two additional sections to the first bill were discussed but not acted on, Mr. Noel being opposed to them.  By one it is declared that under this bill slaves shall not be held to be property, by the other provision is made for the enrollment of all loyal persons within the rebel districts who shall become free, upon such enrollment and may be, if such numbers are required, enlisted in the military service of the United States.  Both will probably be moved in the House.

(Times Dispatch.)

Gen. Franklin’s division which Gen. McClellan has ordered to West point at the head of York river, was on board of transports when the rebels abandoned Yorktown.  They were kept on board by Gen. McClellan for the very service they are performing and will doubtless be able to intercept the rebel retreat to Richmond, compelling them to give battle or surrender.  The main road of retreat up the peninsula is close on the bank of York river which will bring the rebel army within range of our gun boats that are conducting Franklin’s transports to the rear, there are four gunboats in the service.  McClelland [sic] has transports sufficient to forward twenty thousand additional soldiers from Yorktown to West Point immediately.  It will not be surprising if he captures the bulk of the rebel army and takes Richmond in a week.

The French Minister went to Richmond to assure the rebels that the Emperor of the French does not recognize them as a power among the nations, that England and France by recognizing them as belligerents did all that could be expected on the part of neutral governments, that the blockade of their ports is effectual, that they are fairly beaten in arms and their independence as a nation is impossible, that a continuance of hostilities by the threatened destruction of the cotton and tobacco crops of their citizens would only be a wanton injury to the commerce of the world, injuring France and England even more than the United States, and that a resort to guerrilla warfare as proposed, when their armies are destroyed would demoralize society and be practically a return to barbarism.  The rebels have been admonished that a cessation of hostilities is a duty they owe to themselves and to the world which all civilized nations will unite in requiring of them.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 10, 1862, p. 4