s feared he will take the city without one.

Mr. Foote made a speech in Congress yesterday--a savage one, I am told.
Going home yesterday at 3 o'clock, I met Mr. Foote, and told him what I
had heard. He said he could have wished me to hear every word of it. I
asked if it would not be printed. He held up a roll of manuscript,
saying he had written it in full, and that it would certainly be
published. The papers say in their brief reports, that he disavowed all
ideas of reconstruction. After he left the House, one of the Missouri
members offered a resolution for his expulsion, on the ground that he
had, unlawfully, attempted to pass into the enemy's lines, for the
purpose of negotiating a peace, etc. It was referred to the Committee on
Elections.

After this a resolution was introduced, that a joint committee be
appointed to prepare an address, etc., solemnly declaring that the war
shall be waged until independence be achieved, etc. Such addresses have
been repeatedly made, and at last seem to have a demoralizing effect.
People remember how many test votes were taken in the Virginia
Convention, showing that the State never would secede--and at length the
Convention passed an ordinance of secession! Nothing can save this
government long but military successes, and these depend upon having the
slave and other property owners in the field. This can never be done
without a renovation of the machinery used to fill up the ranks.

The President is calm. Some think him subdued. A few days or weeks will
determine.

Gen. Howell Cobb writes his views, etc. Utterly opposed to arming the
slaves--better emancipate them at once, conceding to the "_demands of
England and France_," and then enlist them. But he thinks a return to
the system of volunteering would answer to fill the ranks with white
men; also suggests that the President concede something to popular
sentiment--restore Gen. J. E. Johnston, etc. He says gloom and despair
are fast settling on the people.

J. P. McLean, Greensborough, N. C., in response to the request of Mr.
Secretary Seddon, gives information of the existence of many Union men
in that section, and suggests sudden death to ---- etc. The Secretary
_is diligent_ in getting such information; but lately it seems he never
applies the remedy.

Mr. Secretary Seddon thinks Mr. Peck's explanation of his purchasing
satisfactory; the Assistant Secretary, Chief of Bureau of War, and Mr.
Seddon's private clerk got an a