We have some interesting intelligence from Knoxville, furnished by a gentleman who has been in the town ever since its occupation by the Yankees, until a short time since, when he succeeded in effecting his escape. The severity of the Federal rule, represents, has pretty effectually killed the intense Unionism of many of the citizens of the place, and more completely determined the Southern portion of the population to continue the weight of its influence on behalf of Southern rights.

When he left Knoxville a great deal of coldness prevailed, and there were over three hundred cases of small-pox in the city. The dead were being buried in yards and gardens, or wherever most convenient. Dead horses and mules were lying in the streets, and for more than a mile around the earth was strewn with decomposing carcases. The beautiful ornamental trees in the streets and on the grounds of private residence have been cut down, and even those in the Asylum grounds have been felled and consumed.

The oppressions of loyal citizens is represented to be cruel and despotic. They are not permitted to follow their occupations. to sell or buy without a permit from Gen. Foster, and this cannot be obtained without taking the oath. Some who have not the of procuring food, have been starved into taking the oath in order to draw the rations allowed their loyal subjects, These rations consist of a hard cracker per day, and a little blue, stringy beef. A number of the citizens have been compelled to crowd themselves and effects into one or two rooms, whilst the other parts of their large and comfortable mansions are appropriated for officers' quarters. The whole country around is a waste of ruin and desolation.

Later news from Knoxville asserts that the Yankees have evacuated it, but that our forces have not entered the city because of the prevalence of the small-pox, there being now about 600 cases. Our forces are said to the encamped three or four miles around the

A few days ago, Maj. Day, of Rucher's region, captured at Big Spring, Claiborne county, Tenn., 75 Yankees with their horses and arms, besides killing five or six and wounding several.

A letter dated headquarters, January 25th, 1864.

Maj. Day made an attack upon Tazewell yesterday morning, with the intention of capturing the but found 2,000 infantry and eight pieces artillery there. Gen. Longstreet had given him men. He made the attack, and withdrew hour's fighting. He lost one man killed and captured twelve Yankees, killed five, and wounded several. He drove two regiments into and remained at the south edge of town until driven away by their artillery. We retreated in the enemy not pursuing.

The Senate met on Saturday at 11 o'clock M.

Mr. Jemison, of Ala., introduced a bill to any State in communicating with, and electing records concerning, its troops; which was referred to the Military Committee.

Mr. Hill, of Ga. presented the memorial Alfred T. Mann and others, of the An Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church of the State of Georgia, praying the of a law authorizing Commissaries of Quartermasters to sell rations and forage all duly accredited Missionaries in the at the rules at which they are issued officers, and allowing each Army Chaplain forage for one horse; which was re to the Military Committee.

Chair laid before the Senate the me of Dr. R. W. Gibbes, President of Press Association, praying a change in present Exemption law so far as relates them. Referred to the Military Committee.

motion of Mr. Semmes, the Senate retired into secret session.

The doors being opened, the House joint resolution of thanks to Gen. Beauregard and officers and men under his command, their defence of Charleston, South Carolina, was taken up and referred to the Military Committee.

Mr. Read, of North Carolina, offered the following, which was unanimously agreed to:

Resolved by the Confederate States of America, That and spirit of the North Carolina evinced by this prompt and voluntary devotion of themselves afresh to the service of the are beyond all praise, and deserve the gratitude of the Government.

A motion of Mr. Semmes, the Senate ad

The House met at 11 o'clock, and was with prayer by Rev. Dr. Ryland.

The House then resumed the unfinished business of Thursday, being the bill amends of the act to put an end to the exemption from military service of those who have interfere furnished substitutes.

motion was made to postpone the bill definitely, upon which the ayes and noes we called, and resulted — ayes 29, noes 41.

After some discussion, the bill was passed a vote of ayes 44, noes 31, in the following form:

Action 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, that the above recited act has not apply to farmers and planters engaged on of January, 1864, in the production of grain in provisions, either by their own manual labor superintending the labor of others: Provided, The exemption herein contemplated is granted sub to the following conditions:

That the person availing himself thereof shall hide himself, and the labor of which he has the or superintendence, exclusively to the protection of provisions and family supplies.

That there shall be paid and contributed on the farm, or, of more than one farm, from each farms which the person thus exempted owns in addition to the tithe required law, an additional tenth of the pork or duced on said farm or farms (beginning product of last year) for the use of the

That the person thus exempted will, if so sell all his surplus provisions, now on hereafter raised, for the use of soldiers' or for the use of the army, at prices not then those fixed for the time being by the appointed under the impressment.

That the person seeking to avail himself of of this act shall have furnished a substitutable to military duty, who is now in the or who has been legally discharged thereafter who has died therein.

That the benefit of this act shall not apply to farms or plantations on which there is adult not liable to military duty.

2. Nothing contained in this act shall be as the power of the President, existing laws, to exempt such persons as he proper on grounds of equiry, justice, or

House then took up the consideration bill entitled an act to create an inva which was continued under discus the hour of adjournment.

The Senate a communication from the announced the disagreement of that to an amendment by the Senate to bill, providing for payment of tobacco destroyed by fire at the public warehouse. was referred to a committee.

bill for the relief of families of in counties within the lines or under control of the enemy, was reported with

confirming and amending the char the Richmond Glass Manufacturing and a bill to incorporate the Richmond company, were reported.

Newton introduced a preamble and

--Morris Davids, of Petersburg, and Jacob Goldstein, of Richmond, were arrested in Petersburg, Va., Friday, the first for receiving four barrels of stolen Government pork, and the second for buying it from him. The following is the evidence in the case, as reported in the Petersburg Register.

Mr. J. Jacobs, of Richmond, testified that he knew Davids, and had given him assistance and went his security when he took the store. That on his way to Richmond this week he stopped for a few nights, and was surprised to find him engaged in purchasing pork from negroes, who brought it in bags at an early hour in the morning. He remonstrated against the practice, but David told him he wanted to make money and leave the country. Being determined to stop this wholesale robbery of the Government, he gave the information which enabled the officers to arrest the prisoners in the act of sending the pork to Richmond.--Mr. Jacobs identified Edmund, slave to Stephen Britton; Dick, slave to Mr. W. B. Harrison, and William, slave to Dr. --, as the men who brought the meat to Davids. Dick was the only one of them engaged in the Government store — the others were strangers to Major Tannabill.

Mr. Jacobs also testified that he overheard Edmund telling Davids that halt-price was not enough, "as he had to give half of the proceeds to the guard at the store" for allowing him to pass. He also overheard Edmund tell Dick "to go back and look the door of the store." The principal part of Mr. Jacobs's testimony was corroborated by a clerk of Davids's, who left the store every evening, and knew nothing of the business until told of it by Mr. Jacobs. Mr. Davids stated that he purchased the meat from other persons, and denied the statement of Mr. Jacobs.

Mr. Goldstein stated that he had purchased the meat at $3 per pound from Davids, who told him that it came from North Carolina; that he had no idea of its being stolen, for if he had he would have had nothing to do with it.

The barrels contained about 150 pounds each, and it was proved could be sold for specie at from 12 to 15 cents per pound. After a patient and close investigation, the Mayor decided to send all the parties — white and black — to the Hustings Court.

--A gentleman from Portsmouth, Va., gives the Petersburg Express a sad account of the oppression and sufferings of the loyal citizens of that place. He says:

Gen. Getty, whose headquarters, have been at Bowers's Hill, and Gen. Barnes, of Norfolk, have both been removed. Gen. a full-blooded Abolitionist, takes the place of Getty, and Gen. Wilde, (of Elizabeth City, N C., notoriety,) succeeded Barnes.

It is reported that the Yankees, with their negro soldiers, intend making a raid towards the Blackwater soon. Whether there is anything real in this report or not, our informant could not learn.

--The following is Butler's dispatch to Washington, giving an account of the recent expedition up James river:

--The Louisville Democral, of a recent date, says that four hundred out of the 115th, 117th, and 118th Indiana six months volunteers were ordered to report at Indianapolis, their terms of service having expired. They were marched over the mountains from Tazewell, some of them without shoes and but with little clothing and with a scanty supply of food. In one party of 102, twenty-four died before reaching Camp Nelson, and fifty men died in a few hours after their arrival. Out of 500 men who left Tazewell, 150 died from exposure and the want of food and proper care. One night two men of Co. A. 115th Indiana, fell by the wayside and died crying for bread! As their term of service had expired, Lincoln had no further use for them, and turned them out to starve and die.

--A country friend says he has been taught by necessity, since the war began, how to keep beef without salt, and desires us to tell our readers. According to his experience and taste, beef is never fit to be eaten in steaks until a week after being killed. He says that if it is suspended by a hook or string, in a cellar, so as not to touch the wall, it will, even in the bettest of summer, keep from one to two weeks, without a particle of salt, and in winter for a much longer time. He has now some which he has preserved in this way ever since the 1st of December last, and thinks it greatly improved. It is more tender, palatable, and wholesome.

--A letter in a Philadelphia paper from Norfolk, Va says:

--We have some additional items of the raid on "Lower Brandon." There are some twenty negroes yet left upon the estate. The mules not taken off were killed, and the meat not stolen was destroyed. Six of the negroes from "Upper Brandon," the seat of W B Harrison, Esq., while attempting to throw themselves into the arms of their Yankee brethren, were overhauled and are now in Prince George jail.

In the Kentucky Legislature Messrs. Bell, Guthrie, Burnham, Butler, and Buckner, are candidates for the U. S. Senate.

George Jones, once proprietor of the Richmond Theatre, has been tried in Boston and convicted of being "a common scold."

Mrs. Gen. Gaines, who was connected with the celebrated Gaines will case, has been ordered by the Yankee authorities to return to the South.

Eighteen car loads of coffee passed through Petersburg, Va., on Friday, en route for General Lee's army.