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commenced I ALEXANDRIA, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 6,1861. i ALBXA SSS™ D A/ A B T T J2 B OFHCH . October 7,1861. j I * The Volunteer Relief Association.— The Volunteer Relief Association held its seveuth regular meeting at the office of Wm B. Price, on Pitt street, near Prince, yester day afternoon, at three o'clock. Wm. B. Price, President, presided, and 11. Peel appeared as Secretary. The attendance was as usual. The purchasing and distributing commit tees made their usual reports. The latter committee reported the following distribution of provisions for the past week : " The distribution has consisted of three hundred and thirty-three rations, given to one hundred and forty families, as follows: 1,096 pounds of meat; 20 bushels of corn meal; 792 lbs. of flour ; 1,740 fish." The location of the supply store at the joiner's shop of W. II: MuKuight, was con curred in. A communication was read from the La dies' Relief Association, enclosing a state ment of Ihe operations of that society, simi lar to that published in the Local News last week. Whereupon the following resolution was adopted by acclamation: Resolved, That the report of the Ladies' Rbliet Suciety be spread upon the minutes, and that tbe Secretary be instructed to fur nish them with a statement of the operations of the society up to the present time, and express to them our thauks for the cordial co-operation they have given in this charity. The roll ot the beneficiaries of the charity was then examined, and pi uned of several names. The Association then adjourned The Fruits of Charity.— A most inter esting correspondence has lately taken place between the Ladies' Relief Society, dcv.ted to supplying clothiDg to the destitute, and the Volunteer Relief Association, which fur nishes food and fuel to the same objects. The ladies forwarded a statement of their opera, lions to the gentlemen, and this mnrniuir. Henry Peel, the Secretary of the gentlemen's association, forwarded a letter, couched in fitting terms, and setting forth the operations of that Association, to the ladies society. This communication shows that the Vol unteer Association has distributed, during the month ot November: 5,008 pounds of meat; 128 J bushels of corn meal; 18 barrels of flour ; 15 barrels of fish ; 54 loads of wood ; 1 ton of coal. This is a bright page in the history of the times. We are sorry to learn that the supply of fuel in the hands of the society has been exhausted, and cannot, for the present, be renewed, so that, in future, its donations will be in food only. Tobacco. —The consumption of the article of tobacco in this vicinity at the present time, would, if stated in figures, appear al most incredible. For many years, sfgars. &c, have formed a portion of the stock of other dealers, beside those who devoted themselves solely to the sale of tobacco. Now > however, tobacco and pipes are kept in one half of the establishments in town, und some dozen new establishments that have beeu opened, aie devoted to the sale oi nothing else. . Passes —The applicants for passes at tbe headquarters of the Military Governor of this city are now each moruing ranged in lines, \o avoid interfering with persons pass ing on that side of St. Asaph street. This gives the line a singular appearance, and more than once has this line been mistaken for a squad of recruits, getting ready to drill. The Watch House.—This " institution " is now again used as a watch-hou-e, being occupied at night by the military police, aud receiving all ptrauna arraatad during the night. 11i\f.r Movements -There have been quite a number of Toys, tic, plying about the river to-day. Thi» Pensacola has been trying her engines; the Mount Washington passed down; the James Guy came down with troops, and landed them here. Several U. S. barges fr >m above with Hour, arid a few small vessels from below have arrived. The Mayor's Office.—As there is now but a single civil magistrate in this county with a jurisdiction recognised by the milita ry, the number of cases brought up at the Mayor's Court each morning are not only nu merous, but of characters exceedingly vari ous. This morning several police cases came up before the Court for adjudication. They were all caused by drunkenness, and, in the consideration of these cases, the Court fo'ok occasion toanimadvert with equal justice and severity upon the retail liquor trade, as now Erried on in Alexandria. The greed of gain j emed to have overridden every other cons'd atio , and men were found who would not only cheat, but steal, some having no regard whatever for the peace of the community, selling liquor to soldiers by stealth whenever a chance offered, and charging two and three dollars for a bottle of horrible stuff which did not cost them twenry-eight cents a gallon. He believed that there were more people go ing to the devil from Alexandria new, than from any other town in rhe world, owing to tese miserable establishments. There were also a number of applications r licenses, which were granted an endorse ment being made on eich one to the effec that it did not authorise the sale of spiritu ous liquors. Messrs. O.C. Whittlesey and-O. C. Hewes chosen Collectors of Taxes at the recent elec tion, gave bond, qualified and entered upon the discharge of the duties of their respective officers. A Chance of Juki diction. —The civi law now has been restored to a great portion of its ordinary integrity in this country.— The military government now confines its I operations to an efficient police—a system of passes, for leaving the city, and some other I matters of a similar character. Civil persons are not, however, longer ame. 1 nable to military tribunals for ordinary of fences ; the Provost Court is abolished, and the jurisdiction of the Provost Marshal limi ted to the ordinary functions which pertain to that pi. sition under the laws governing the military and naval forces ot the United State? The ordinary civil tribunals will tak ! charge of cuses relating to citizens, and t | soldiers also, when their offence is merely | violation of municipal or State law. When i however, the offeoce is a violation of milita ;ry discipline, as drunkenness, tfec, the Pro ; vost Marshal certifies the case to the onion* jof each regiment, who sees to the punish j ment of his own men. The military police assist the civil police, and, in a word, the usual jurisdiction of civil ifficers and tribunals is now re-established. The Weather —The weather to-day ha 8 >een quite pleasant—being very much like fidiun Summer. The Washington correspondent of the Bal timore Sun says that " the absorbii g ques tion now is, not about the prospect of an iid vance at this point, but what policy concern ing contrabands will became a fixed fact.— I The ultra republicans pronounce the Presi ' dent's views concerning slaves as not coming up to the spirit of the times." And he adds that " it is confidently asserted, by persons who have access to the President, that he wil* ! veto any bill which is based upon the ideas ! latterly enunciated by the hot-heads of the republican pnrty. It is stated, also, in j well posted quarter, that a majority of th Senate and House accord with the Presiden So also does a majority of tbe Cabinet," The Washington correspondent of the B Y. Times, speaking on the same subjee says that the more moderate and and conser vativa friends of the President are higbl pleased with his course, and, knowing "th ;remendous pressure that has been brought to bear upon him tv swerve him from his pur pose, they declare that he is now fully tried and found the man of firmness necessary to bin pos'tiou." Tho New York World says :—"Col. Ker rigan is not to be shot as a traitor. He will merely be drummed oat of the service, for d'unkenuess ;tnd "conduct unbecoming an Ber und a gentleman." He will then ;>tle-<8 take his se.it in Congress." | The message of the Governor of Maryland to the Legislature of that State, urges meas ures for the payment of the State's portion of the national tax for the expenses of the war. He saysthe rebellion must be put down, no matter at what cost, and Maryland must bear her share, and he hopes it will be done with no niggard hand. He urges a loan for the purp >se, and also says it is undoubtedly a strict duty, as it is also due to the pride and honor of the State, that immediate provision be made for raising and equipping Mary land's quota of volunteers for the war. He recommends legislation for summary punish ment of persons in Maryland who shall be convicted of aiding or abetting, in any man ner, those who are in arms against the Gov ernment. The Washington correspondent of the Phil adelphia Inquirer gives another version id the reported difficulty in reference to Secre tary Cameron's report. lie says Secretary Seward aud Secretary Cameron differed so much in their views, that a break up seemed inevitable, but that the President settled the matter " by going to General Cameron, and insisted upon his confining his report to a statement of the past, and not dictate to Con gress what they should do. Cameron insist ed that his policy was correct, and must be carried out at once. The President assured him that it did not follow, if he changed his report or left out any of it, that he must ne cessarily change his policy, but that be could carry it out; only let Congress take hold of the matfer first. With this understanding, 1 General Cameron made the alteration." The resolutions of Mr. Eliot, of Massa chusetts, in the House of Representatives, are not received with unanimous approbation in Boston. Tbe Boston P >st says : " The j resolutions introduced by Eliot, of Massa chusetts, and Stevens, of Pennsylvania, into Congress are simply propositions to render j the restoration of the Union impossible, the I war interminable -a cry for blood, taxation, j poverty ; the food craved by reckless fanaii | cism. Those who like the programme may | prepare to enact their parts. The probabil -1 ity is the audience will be too large for tbe I performers—the hisses louder than tbe ap plause." GENERAL NEWS. Bills have been introduced into the House of Representatives relative to the "confisca tion of slaves held by rebels," and to con fiscate all property belonging to persons in rebellious States." Also resolutions reaffirm ing the Crittenden resolutions unanimously adopted at the last session denying that this is a war for subjugation or interfering with the institutions of the States, Ac. The bill introduced by Mr. Trumbull, in the Senate, provides for the "forfeiture of all property of rebels wh i are beyond the reach of judi cial process. The property in insurrection ary districts is to be seized and appropriated by military power. That in the districts where it can be reached by legal process is to be confiscated through the courts. The proceeds, after the payment of the expenses and just claims of loyal creditors, are to be applied to reimbursing loyal citizens, des poiled of their property by rebels, and tbe rest to paying the expenses of suppressing insurrection. Rebel owners of slaves arc to forfeit the'r right to them, and the negroes are to become free." A letter from Darnestown to th« Washing ton Star, dated December 4, says:—This morning the Third Brigade of Gen. Banks' Division struck their teals und took up the line of march for Frederick. The pickets of this brigade, lining the canal and river from Senaea Lock to within fur miles of Chain ( Bridge, are to be replaced by these from Gen. Stone's Command The third Brigade constituted tbe rear of General Banks' move ment to Frederick. Gen Hamilton's (Firtt) Brigade having left on yesterday, and Gen. Ahercromb.e's (Third) Brigade on the day previous. The general Impression appears to be that Frederick is not to ba the winter quarters ot' tho division, but merely a suita Lie position for locating a corps of reserves." Pork is selling at low rates in the Western country. In the Senate, yesterday, an effort was made by Mr. Chandler to obtain the appoint ment of a committee to inquire into the dis asters of Bull Run and Edward's Feny, but on motion of Mr. Fessenden, the subject was postponed. It is said that "the Senate pre sented a grave and rather gloomy aspect, while the military disasters of Bull Run, Springfield, Wilson's Creek, and Ball's Bluff were discussed upon resolutions of inquiry into their causes. Senator Lane, of Kansas, remarked that Congress would not have to go far to learn the causes of the disasters in Missouri. It is probable that a joint com mittee ot the two houses will be charged with the proposed inquiry." Senator Trumbull, while advocating his confiscation bill, took occasion utterly to re pudiate the idea that the military should ever be superior lo the civil power. He did not recognize any military necessity as be ing above tbe constitution aud the laws.— Whatever was to be done, therefore, in the war, should be done under act of Congress. Mr. Fessenden, the leader of the Repub licans, threw out some intiinati jus to the ef fect that no hot and wild work, iv disregard of the constitution and laws, would be coun tenanced by him. In the Maryland House of Delegates yes terday, a discussion sprang up ou Secretary Cameron's proposition for the division and partition of the State of Maryland, Delaware and Virginia. The scheme evidently found no supporters, and the House unanimously agreed to lay the subject ou the table. The water is drawn out of the George town level on the C. and O. Canal, to give the workmen an opportunity to put up the tresselling to support that portion of the new Government bridge which crosses tbe Chesapeake and Ohio Canal at the north end of the Alexandria aqueduct. The Nashville-Louisville Courier of the 2b\h., says that John C Breckinridga is quite ill from an attack of jaundice. Mrs. Marks, arrested as an accessory to the murder ot Mr. Fellner, in New Jersey, has made a confession, saying that Radski I stabbed Fellner and murdered him; that it was he who opened and robnsd Fellner's trunk of its valuable contents. Gen. McClellan is in the 36th year of his age. IN BOAKD OF ALDERMEN. The Board of Aldermen, elected on the 20th ult., were called to the Council chamber at 10 o' ■ clock, ou the 22d ult., and Messrs. B. Shinn, Jas. Vansant, Andrew Wylie, Robert Bell, Sen., Allen C . Harmon and Jefferson Tucey being present, • and duly qualified by the Mayor, Lewis AlcKen . tie. On motion, Stephen Shinn was elected thePres -1 ident of the Board. Andrew Wylie was requesied to notify tbe Com mon Council that the Board were prepared to pro ceed to business. James A. Stoutenburg notified this Board that the Common Council had organized. On motion, ii was Resolved, That a committee should be appoint ed by this Board, to act with a com mil tee from tbe Common Council, in an investigation of tho pres ent condition of the Alms House. Committee—Robert Bell. S. Sidebottom informed this Board that the Common Council hud appointed a committee to ascertain the condition of the Alms House. (>n motion, the Board adjourned to meet on Tuesday evening, the 26th inst., at 7 o'clock. JEFFERSON TACEY, i Secretary pro tain. IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN. The Board of Aldermen, met on November 26th, 1861, at 7 o'clock P. M. The President, Steplieu Shinn, tsq., in tbe Cbxir The minutes of the previous meeting were read aad approved.* The Committee on Alms House reported thnt the Keeper of the Alms House was at his post, and that he intended to remain there until his successor was appointed. Andrew Jataieson being present, was 'luly qual ified ■ member of the Board. The President announced tbe Standing Commit tees as follows: On Finance—A. Jamieson and A. Wiley. On Public Property—J. Tacey aud Janies Van sant. Ou Light—Robert Bell and A. C. Uarmoa. On Claims—A. Wiley and Jas. Vansant. On Streets—A. C. Harmon and Robert Bell. On Schools—A. Jamfaon and J. Tucey. On Poor—Jas. Vansant and Robert Bell. On Oeneral Laws—A. WOev • ud A. Jamieson. An order from the other Board concerning tbe application ot Wm. Grcgrory, for mi alteration of Tax Bill, referring tho same to ■ joint special com mittee, was amended by referring it to the Com mittee on Claims. On motion, the ''Rules "I Oid--r" of the former Board, and the "Joint Rules" were adopted as the rules of this Board On motion, the Board adjourned. JIFFRRSOH TACEY, ' Secretary pro. tern.