LATEST AMERICAN NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 715, 12 August 1865, Page 9

LATEST AMERICAN NEWS.

By arrival of, the schooner Samoa, from Tahiti, we (S.M. Herald)' have ■ received the Daily Alia California of ,the 20th May, which contains telegraphic intelligence from Nov Torlr t<> f)«- 18 hof fhs>t month The principal item is the atttmp." to iix some cr in;e upon .Tefti.-r.-on Davis, who is i>ow charged wirh htii'/.' concerned in a conspiracy to murder the Federal prieoners *by starvation," and witli plunderiner the tanks in Richmond, and dividing the spoil among his immediate followers on the day before his capture. The following is extracted from the Daily Alta :—: — New Yokk, 18tb May. The Herald's correspondent from Kilpatrick'B cavalry camp, near Lexington, 5f.C, cays the planters of the surrounding country are greatly troubled regarding the anticipated scarcity of hands to perform the necessary agricultural labur, and design visiting the North to procure laborers. They say that the negroes, now that they are free, are unreliable. The poor whites of the State are too lazy to work. The dissolution of the rebel armies has thrown loose upon North Carolina, as well as other States, thousands of disorderly characters, who roam through the country plundering from friends and foes indiscriminately, causing a reign of terror and anarchy. This condition of things has been to a great extent terminated by the judicious distribution at various points throughout the State of detachments of the national troops. The Herald's correspondent says : — The question long agitated as to who is responsible for the cruel treatment of our prisoners confined in the Libby and other prisons, may now be considered definitely settled. It appears the rebel senator Foote was a member of the committee in the Senate to examine into the treatment of prisoners and the reports of their harsh usage and starvation. His story, as told by his relatives, shows a deeper intention than is generally supposed, and fastens upon Jeff. Davis and his cabinet a crime startling and appalling in its details. Foote, it is said, states that the investigations showed conclusive evidence that it Tivas decided in a cabinet meeting to reduce the rations served to the prisoners, that it should so weaken their constitution, in connection with confinement, that it would destroy them as soldiers, and make them when exchanged worthless. Foote determined to report these facts to the Senate. The balance of the committee overruled him and suppressed the facts. It was on this point that the quarrel between Davis am; Foote broke out afresh, which resulted in the latter leaving Richxnond. The Tribune's despatch from Raleigh of the 12th says the number of Johnston's army who were paroled at G-reensboro' has been swelled by additions of a large portion of Wheeler's command and others, received by Major Wolcott, at Charlotte, N.C , and now amounts to 36,971. Among these there are forty-one general officers. The Tribune's Washington despatch says the President's forthcoming Amnesty Proclamation is already in type The proof sheets have been under consideration for several days by the Cabinet. On the 9th, Jiff. Davis, after dividing the specie among his staff and personal escort, informed those with him that they must look out for their personal safety. Taking a few trusty followers, including Benjamin and Breckenridge, he waa attempting to reach the coast when arrested. Basil Duke and several of his field officers have surrendfred at Augusta. Davis was expected to reach Nashville last night. * New Yokk, 17th May. The Nightingale, from Havannah, with dates to the 11 tTi, and Key West to the 13th, reports that the rebel ram Stonewall had arrived at Ilavaunah on the 11th. It is said the Government would not allow her any facilities for doing damage to our shipping : that she would be obliged to leave within twenty-four hours ; that she would not be allowed to discharge, or take on any men or ammunition, and only sufficient coal to take her to sea, and that if the Captain- General had orders to that effect he would willingly seize her. There is no report of her having destroyed any vessel on the way to Havannah. It is reported that the blockade runner Imogene had arrived at Matanzas on the 10th, with 1,000 bales of cotton from Galveston, and landed twelve passengers en route to Europe. The Imogene sailed on the 11th, ostensibly for Nassau. Her passengers reached Havannah on the 11th. It is said our consul applied officially for permission to send by a gunboat notification of the presence of tbe Stonewall to Key West, but General Delarina refused the request. The American steamer Columbia was then sent, and as she passed the Florida coast signal fires were .seen along for twenty miles. On the 7tb, & steamer appeared Off the Moro. She was signalled, and suddenly under all 'steam started northward, displaying the English ensign at tbe peak,! and the rebel flag at the fore. It: was' thought she was the Imogene. The Columbia, from Havannah on the

13th, reports that the StonewalT :left": left" Teneriffe . Ist April, and arrived at Bermuda on' the 28th ; thence proceeded .to Nassau, but was unable to get l 'ov3r the bar, owing to her drawing over sixteen feet of w*ter. She occupied three days in 'hp pngs-iirp to Hivannah. . She was not s .luted at davui.rmli. The Spanish General Demorina (Delarina ?), under the pretence of showing the pirate to his daughter, paid her a visit. One of the Captain- General's Aides, and several Government officers also vi-ited the pirate. Some difficulties were attempted to be placed in the way of the clearing of the steamer Columbia for Key West, by (our?) Consul, but Messrs J. M. Morale and Co. overcame them. She was allowed to depart, to warn Admiral Stribbling at Key West. CiNcnmATi, 18th May. The Gazette's special, says Governor Brown, of Georgia, passed through Indianapolis last night en route to Washington. Both Houses of the Kentucky Legislature convened yesterday. The House adopted the resolution directing the Committee on the condition of slavery to revise the Slave State Code. Nashville despatches say the rebel leaders, Gates wood and Champ Ferguson, are committing great depredations on the defenceless people of East Tennessee. Large numbers of paroled prisoners from Lee's and Johnston's army are travelling through the country, robbing and plundering generally. Twenty- four hundred prisoners at Camp Chase have taken the oath and have been discharged. The Weldon Kailroad is now in operation. Trains are running daily on the road, and are also running through from Morehead City to Raleigh, Salisbury, Charlotte, Dankville, and to Richmond. GOLD. New York, 18& May.— Gold, 129|.