The New York Herald Newspaper, January 22, 1869, Page 3

WASHINGTON General Grant Declines the Inauguration Ball. The Danish Minister to Advocate the Purchase of St. Thomas Before the Committee. ‘Benard, the Colored Congressman, to be Heard in Advocacy of His Claims to a Seat. Adjournment of the Woman’s Rights Convention. | Loyalty and Intelligence or No Suffrage the Final Ultimatum. The Air Line Railroad Under Discussion in the Senate. The Missouri Contested Election Case in the House Decided in Favor of Anderson. Wasnrnetor, Jan. 21, 1869. President Johuson’s Nominees Not to be Con- firmed. A petition is being circulated in the House asking the Senate not to confirm any more nominations made by the President this session, whether they be Tepublicans or democrats. It has already received ‘the signatures of nearly all the republican members Of the House, and ft will, it is expected, be laid before the Senate at its next executive session with the ‘ame of every republican in the House attached to it. It is understood that this movement has the sanction of General Grant, and was started by hts particular friends in the House. The object is to prevent the incoming administration from being burdened or embarrassed with the appointments of President Johnson. It is stated by some here that the Senate ‘will, in accordance with this petition, refuse to con- firm any more nominations that may be sent in, and that those now before it will be indefinitely post- poned. This will be doing great injustice to some of the nominees, particularly Mr. Smythe, in favor of ‘whose confirmation numerous Senators were pledged: The Inaugural Ball—General Grant Declines , It. ‘The general committee for the management of the unofficial’ inaugural ceremonies diligently en- Qeavored to procure a suitable building and also carefully considered the subject of erecting one of sufficient capacity for the occasion, but finding the former impossible and the latter impracticable, they applied to the Congress of the United States for the use of the rotunda, the old Hall of Representatives and such adjoining portions of the Capitol as might be required for that purpose. The unani- mous consent of the House was given, but the prop- oaition was unexpectedly defeated in the Senate. Pending the motion to reconsider the following let- ter was received from the President elect by the Secretary of War:— . HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES, WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan 20, 1860. >} beep eae 1K, Esq, > ke: EAR witich you are secretary, Tmeet this even for the rpoee of arranging for tne ia Iven- Ct gos to say thai if any choice is left to _me I would be to see it dispensed with. Plans made bh hence in the matter of ‘cerewmonlen attending apie Vege matter it will be agree- me if your committee should agree that the ities sreoncatines, pourwbethenh incvant; U. 8. GRANT, General. ‘The Telegraphic Struggic. a ‘The battle grows hotter. Clan Hubbard and Clan Orton are in the fleld with their forces, and threaten to fight it out on the telegraphic line until the pre- sent session of Congress closes. The Postal Com- mittee appears not averse to witness and decide on the merits of the fight, Yesterday the leader of Clan Orton made a brilliant defence before the committee and continues it to-day. The argument was very pathetic, He thought that the government ought, if ‘they interfered in the telegraph monopoly, to inter- fere also with the potato business, so as to cheapen ‘this valuable root, oreven make arrangements for cheap tenement houses for the poor. He also ar- gued that while the lines were operating weparately there was no hope of making the business pay dividends; and even since the lines have been consolidated many men who have invested their ali in the business now find themselves poor. Win fact, it was represented that the poverty-stricken Western Union line could hardly Keep on its feet and pay dividends to the four thousand ‘unfortunate stockholders who represent it. There is a strong argument presented by Clan Hubbard, which fs that the total telegraph lines represent $65,000,000 capital stock, upon which dividends are paid. Thus, according to the statement of Clan Orton, 13,000,000 of messages pase the lines annually—that is, one message for each five dollars of capital stock. Now, Mf seven per cent be required each message has to Pay thirty-five cents interest, irrespective of cost of of the lines. It is represented, g pany, as Tepresented by Mr. Varley, by stating that this gentleman was not correct in bis judgment. 'Tis MO go, however; the Yankees have the start and are determined to keep ap a running fire until the great monopoly is broken down. Mr. Washburne will soon make a speech in the House upon the telegraph question. Thus the work Roads had @ meeting this morning, five members being present. The bill introduced by Benator Con- ness for establishing a line of steamships between New York and European ports was up for considera- tion, apd committed to the charge of a sub-commit- tee of three. The (bill proposes to build a line of steamsahips out of the proceeds of bonds endorsed by the government, and authorizes the Postmaster General to make ® contract with the company for ‘the conveyance of the mails, the compensation for @ Which shall be held as a fund to insure the payment of the bonds. The corporators of the enterprise ap- peared before the committee and exhibited an alto relievo model in maple of the class of steamships they demgn to construct; sectional diagrams on ‘white oil silk of the interior arrangements were also Each vessel is intended to be over 400 feet long, with four paddie wheels, accommodation for 2,000 pas. sengers, and all sorts of luxurious appurtenances heretofore unknown. The committee expressed no Opinion, one way or the other, upon the bill; but if the spirit of economy and retrenchment has any in- fluence thie job, and @ good many similar ones, will go by the board. Nominations by the President, ‘The President has nominbted to the Senate:— wm, R. Cummings to be Internal Revenue Assessor for the First district of New York; James H. Chamber- Jain to be Aveersor for the Fifth district of Massachu- eng setts; Nathaniel K, Sawyer, Collector of Customs of the district of Frenchman’s Bay, Maine. A Sensation Story Corrected—The Facts in Regard to the’ Campaign. A correspondent of a New York morning paper, whose communication was published yesterday in regard to the orders of Banks to supersede Grant be- fore the fall of Vicksburg, is singularly misled in his statements. The simple facts are these:—The Presi- dent, Secretary Stanton, Halleck and Grant all agreed that the armies of Grant and Banks should be combined, the more efficiently to operate against Vicksburg and Port Hudson, Banks was the senior oMficer, For that reason, when the armies were combined, the command would neces- sarily have devolved upon Banks, On the 24 of April, 1863, Halleck telegraphed to Grant, ‘What is most desired, and your attention is again called to this object, 1, that your forces and those of General Banks shall be brought into co- operation as early as possible. If he cannot get up to co-operate with you on Vicksburg, cannot you get troops down to help him on Port Hudson?” On the ‘Tith of May, after Grant had captured Grand Gulf and Port Gibson, Halleck telegraphea him as fol- 1ows:—“If possible, the forces of yourself and Banks should be united between Vicksburg and Port Hud- Son, 80 as to attack these places separately with the combined forces. The same thing has been urged on Banks,” On the 15th of May Grant telegraphed to Halleck, from Jackson, Miss., as follows:—‘I sent special messenger to Banks, giving him the sub- stance of the information I had and asking him to join me as soon as Possible.” This message was sent on the 10th. On the 2d of June Halleck tele- graphed to Grant as follows:—‘I have sent despatch after despatch to Banks to join you. Why he does not I do not understand. His separate operating on Port Hudson is in direct violation of his instruc- tions. If possible send him this despatch.” On the same day President Lincoln telegraphed to Grant as follows:—‘‘Are you in communica- tion with General Banks? Is he coming towards you or goingfurther off? Is there, or has there heen, anything to hinder his coming directly to you by water?” On the 8th of June Grant tele- graphed to President Lincoln:—"I sena by mall a letter from General Banks.” This letter from Gen- eral Banks stated his reasons for not proceeding with his army to combine it with Grant’s army and assume the command to which his rank entitled him. When Banks remonstrated against the orders from Washington and Grant’s own request that he (Banks) should join him (Grant), which neces- sarily would give Banks the command, “un- less there was express designation by the President to the contrary,” Grant sent a member of his staff to urge upon Banks to bring his army up the river. Grant further instructed this staff officer to say to Banks that he hoped no feeling of delicacy in regard to the matter of rank would deter him; that he, Grant,§would cheerfully surren- der the command. _ Both Generals acted nobly in the Matter—Grant in sinking all personal considerations for the supposed good of the service and Panks in declining to step in and take the fruit which Grant had shaken until it was ready to fall. You will see, therefore, that the correspondent is grossty mistaken in supposing that General \Grant has received any new light on this subject within the past month. lam assured by a genticman who was there with General Grant that it was‘Well understood at Grant’s head- quarters, not that Banks was specially ordered to relieve Grant, but to unite the two armies, which would have reauited in his superseding Grant, be- cause he (Banks) was the senior offcer. I am fur- ther assured by the same authority that there was no time during the siege of Vicksburg when General Grant did not possess the entire confidence and re- ceive the earnest co-operation of the President, the Secretary of War and the General-in-Chief. Mr. Dana, the Assistant Secretary of War, ‘was with Grant, and was fully advised of all his plans and «perations during the entire sieze of Vicksburg. fe made full and frequent reports to Stanton, and approved and applauded Grants con- duct, The fact that this matter is not discussed in the text of Bi Ys book 18 probably because he was not aw “hat Banks, at that time, ranked Grant, and therefere did not appreciate the effect of the orders and f:sgrams which are published in the appendix tok. book, Badeau was not, till long afterward, ¢ \jr of Grant’s staff, and had no per- sone! knowletry uf js most intereating perind of Grant's history. whole conduct during this period displays the remarkable fact that in all his campaigns and in all his reports he never seemed to do anything for his own persona! distinc- tion. He was ready to yield command on the eve of apparent victory to make the success of the cause more certain. Reconstruction of Virginia. A vigorous effort is being made by botn the radicals and the conservatives of Virginia to have the Old Dominion admitted to representation in Con- gress. The leaders of both parties have been here for some time earnestly at work with Congressmen, each party trying to impress upon them the import- ance of admitting the State under the regulations prescribed by thetr peculiar political creed. To-day the radical delegation had another hearing before the Reconstruction Committee, Governor Wells, as on yesterday, being the chief spokes- man. He stated that the republican party of the State wanted to go on and organize @ State government under the constitution adopted by the Alexandria convention, and that they were of opinion that it would be to the interest of all parties if Congress would pass a bill provid- ing for the holding of an election to ratify the con- stitution at once. The conservative element, he said, was also willing to accept this constitution, provided the section which diafranchises those who participated in the rebellion was stricken out. The republicans, or as Governor Wells terms them, “the loyal element," could not afford to do this, because he confessed they could not carry the elections or ratity the constitution if that portion of the peo- ple which the constitution disfranchises were allowea to vote, He said the republicans were willing, after the constitution was ratified and the government fairly started, to amend the constitution by striking out the disfranchising section. The conservative delegation is to have an audience with the Recon- struction Committee to-morrow. They will ask the committee to expunge the disfranchising section from the constitution and allow al! male citizens of the State, white and black, over twenty-one years of age, to vote. If this is refused then they will urge that an election be held at once, and that, if the constitution be not ratified thereat, that @ new convention be held, wherein those who participated in the late rebellion shall be represented, so thata new constitution may be drawn up. The only point of difference between the two parties about the constitution is the disfranchis- ing section, and the question which the committee is called upon to decide is whether thie shall be lert as it is or be stricken out. While the radicals were before the committee te-day they presented a itat of charges against Generai Stoneman, accusing him of favoring the “disloyal element” and of want ef sympathy with their own party. Governor Boutwell informed them that these charges were not pertinent to the investigation; but if they chose to leave them he had no objections. Tiey were placed in the hands of Mr. Paine, ® member of the committee, to ex. amine, The committe, however, will take no cognizance of them ofeially. Claims of Seuthern Loyalists. The'Senate Committe on Claims had a meeting to-day and agreed to pestpone indefinitely # bill to retmburse a contractorin Minnesota for mills built for the use of the govemment. Sue Murphy's claim would have been ken up for considera- tion but for the ne-arrival of certain wit nesses who are expected to testify about the question of Miss Murphy's loyalty daring the war. The chairman of the Committee, Mr. Howe, believes in the principle of compensating loyal persons who suffered loss at the hands of the federal troops, but he considers it most essential that such rigid precautions should be adopted in the matter of receiving testimony as to loss and loyalty that will exclude the chance of rebel applications being successful. At the suggestion of Mr, Howe it Is understood a pill wil be introduced giving the Committee on Claims the functions of a commission, to which will be reférred all claims arising under the Precedent of Sue Mutphy’s case, which i ex- pected to pass, and by the enactment of certain strict regulations it is hoped none but purely loyal claims will be endorsed, The expense of paying all true damages ie estimated as not veing capabie of exceeding $3,000,000. In connection with Miss Mur- phy’s case tt ig proper to state that the individual named Humphrey, who wrote aletter to Senator Sumner stating that that lady’s stepfather was the Teal owner of the property which isthe subject of the claim, and that the lady was only put forward to screen the disloyaity of her relative, has since tola @ different story, It is said he met the lady the other day, told her he had been misled as to her case, and that he would do ali in his power to make repara- tion, He offered the lady his hand, but she refused to take it, The Alabama Claims Treaty. ‘The Alabama claims treaty turns out, after all, to ‘be substantially the same as that telegraphed by your correspondent from here last November. The abstract I sent at that time was generally denounced as borus, but is now shown to be almost exactly true, except as to the number of commissioners, which I corrected a few days afterwards. The text 1s almost a literal transcript of the convention of 1853, with the necessary alterations of dates, names, &e. The Situation in Paraguay. Ex-Minister Washburn says that the reports in re- gard to events in Paraguay published previous to the arrival of the last packet from Brazil were, to him, transparently false and manufactured in Paris to serve the interests of Lopez; that the despatch of the ‘7th inst., by Atlantic cable, that General McMahon had gone through and had an interview with Lopez could not possibly be true, and was evidently made up to infuenee public opinion in the United States and prevent our government from taking any action against Lopez, At the time Mr. Washburn left Mon- tevideo—on the 15th of November—General McMahon ‘was still there, and so was Admiral Davis and the South Atlantic squadron. It was then their inten- tion to proceed to Buenos Ayres, and thence to some point on the river below the Brazilian squad- ron, with the four gunboats Pawnee. Quinnebaug, Kansas and Wasp, and thence send one vessel for- ward witha letter from the Admiral to Lopez to make @ peremptory demand on the latter for the delivery of Porter C. Ritss and George F, Masterman. General McMahon did not intend to go near Lopez until these men had been surrendered, and if he had he could not have reached the Paraguayan camp before the 28th of December, and no report of his interview could have reached Buenos Ayres till about the Ist of January; nor can there. in his opinion, be any reliable information in regard to the success of the mission of General McMahon till near the 1st of February. The later telegram from Europe to the effect that Lopez met with a disastrous defeat at Villeta is probably from the same source and mann- factured for the purpose of creating the impression that Lopez is on his last lers and preventing this gov- ernment from doing anything to avenge the insult to its fag. These despatches from Europe Mr. Wash- burn believes were all got up by the same person who has put forth the pamphlet, “M. Washburn, ex-Mintster des Etats Unis, a Assomption et la Con- spiration Paraguayum,” lately published in Paris, the object of which is to convince the world from the correspondence between Minister Washburn and Lopez that there was a conspiracy in Paraguay, and that the American Minister was a party to it. Whether there was or not Mr. Washburn says that Lopez will never permit any of the parties accused to leave Paraguay, and that if any of them ever escape from his clutches they will all deny that there ever was any conspiracy attempted or even thought of. Therefore the ex-Minister has Uttle hope that any one of the prisoners in Paraguay will ever escape alive to tell the story of his enormi- thes, and believes that Lopez’s greatest regret is that he had not sooner perfected his plans and made an end of him and his family, and thus prevented him from slandering him and his benign government. Sir Edward Thornton; the English Minister, has been instructed by Lord Stanley to present the thanks of her Majesty’s government to Mr. Wash- burn for protection to English subjects and is efforts to save them from the grasp of Lopez. This he has done through Mr. Seward In a letter date1 December 18, 1868, saying that he has “much pleasure in complying with instructions given me by his lord- ship that I should convey to the United States govern- ment the thanks of her Majesty’s government for the protection afforded by Mr. Washburn to her Majesty's subjects,” National Bank Secartties. It has been reported that the Comptroller of the Currency has given orders that no more Pacific Railroad bonds will be received as security for the circulation of national banks as substitutes for gold bearing bonds. This statement is not exactly correct. The Comptroller has given notice to the national banks that no more exchanges of the kind referred to will be made until the action of Congress in the matter shall be determined. The applications for permission to make such exchange that have been received up to the 20th inst., which amount to about half a million of dollars, will be complied with, but no other applications will be considered until the action of Congress is known. Restriction of the Franking Privilege. The proposition recently made in Congress to re- strict the franking privilege, and the provision con- tained in the bill requiring the abandonment of stamps for franking purposes, thereby obliging those entitled to the privilege to sign their own names, is making something of a stir in the govern- ment departments. The rapid increase of public correspondence in the last four or five yeara has oc- casioned a very large addition to the mat! matter contributed by many of the bureaus. During certain parts of the year, for example, the Internal Revenue Bureau sends to its oMcers ali over the country a supply of blanks for the assessment and collection of the revenue. At such times the amount of mail matter sent from this bureau has reached as high as two tons per day. ‘The quantity of packages and letters mailed from this office every day is almost suMcient to employ the pen of one person in signing the Commissioner's name. To frank all these documents himself would leave the Commissioner but littie time to do any- thing else, and at certain periods he would be una- ble to post the mail matter produced in the burean. In the case of the department it is not easy to see where the abuse of the free postage system can be avoided, supposing that abuses do really exist, Heads of oureaus claim that every check that can be employed is adopted to guard against the unauthorized use of franks. It 1s contended that if the franking privi- lege was abolished altogether the same facilities for the unlawful use of the mails would sill exist, as persons capable of so defrauding the government could ae easily appropriate postage stamps then as they can franked envelopes now. The Greenback Lean Bill. ‘The House Committee on Banking and Currency have agreed to report the bill heretofore introduced by Representative Barnes:— Be it enacted, igen nn fem tng Re anne of this bili it shall be unlawful for any bank associ th im o persons to loan money The Committee on Public Expenditures met to-day for the purpose of commencing the investigation ordered by the House into the contract made by the Postmaster General with Wells, Fargo & Co, for car- rying the overland mails. The Sergesnt-at-arms was ordered to serve subpenas upon Senator Mor- rill, of Vermont; Representative Ela, of New Hamp- shire, and Mr. Spaids, of Chicago. These are all to appear as witnesses. Spaids was the lowest bidder for the contract, but afterwards abandoned it. Seus- tor Morrfll was attempted to be used, in some way, in procuring the award of the contract, and it ig alleged that he wrote an Indfgnant letter, refusing to use his influence. Ela was instrumental in instituting the investigation,-and the committee want to know his reasons therefor. ‘The New Senator from Pennsylvanian, John Seott, Senator elect from Pennsylvania, was NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 1869.-TRIPLE SHEET. Pennsylvania in the House, at the residence of D. J. Morrell, member from the Jonustown district. The members were severally introduced to Mr. Scott by Senator Cameron, and afterwards the entire party partook of a coliation gotten up by Mr. Morrell. ‘The Louisiana Contested Election Cases. ‘The Committee on Elections commenced to-day the investigation of the contested election case from Louisiana, in which the negro, Menard, Is interested. The case comes up as between Jones and Mann. The latter, who was the sittmg member, and @ democrat, is now deceased, Judge Pascal, of Texas, made an argument on behalf of Mr. Jones, his chief point being that Mann, who was from the North, was not @ citizen of Louisiana at the time of his election. Should the committee decide in favor of Jones and against Mann, of course this throws Menard out of the question, as he was elected to serve out Mann’s unexpired term, Menard, however, proposes to appear before the committee to-morrow and make an argument in his own behalf, State Dinner at the White Honse. On Tnesday evening next the President will hold his first State dinner of the season at the White House. It is expected thas the members of the Cabinet, Foreign Ministers and Justices of the Su- Ppreme Court will be the guests invited. On the Tuesday evening following the President and his daughters will hold their second reception at the Executive Mansion, Secretary Welles’ Reception. The reception of Secretary and Mrs. Welles this evening—the firat of their series—was attended by a large number of ladies and gentiemen, including many of high public position. Receptions at Willard’s Hotel. Mrs. Senator Henderson and Mrs. Senator Freling- huysen received their friends to-day at Willard’s Hotel,’ Their. parlors were thronged from two o'clock until five with the élite of Washmgton. ‘The Senate Naval Committee. ‘The Senate Naval Committee held a meeiIng this morning and transacted a good deal of private busi- ness, Few matters of any importance are before this committee now, as the navy is gradually dwind- lng to even less dimensions than it held before the war, National ‘Woman's Rights Convention, ‘The National Woman’s Rights Convention, which has been in session in this city for the past few days, has adjourned sine die. Among the resolutions passed were the following:— Resolved, That in demanding the ballot for the dis- franchised classes we do not overlook the logical fret of right to be voted for; and we know no reason why the colored man snoutd be excluded from @ seat tn Congress—or any woman eltlier—who possesses the suitable capabilities and has been duly elecced. Resolved, Tat we demand of the government, and public also, that women and colored people shail choose their own occupations, and be paid always equally with men for equal work. solved, That we demand, as the only assnrance jal prosperity and peace, as well as a mea- ice and right, that in the reconstruction of the governinent suffrage shall be based on loyalty and intelligence, and nowhere be limited by odious distinctions on aceount of coior, people or sex, Several women who spoke said that after they become voters they would not broil over a stove and wear themselves out i kitchens, and they were going to sit in Congress. A committee was ap- pointed to prepare an address to Congress and one to the people of the United States, ‘The Alaska Bribery Investigation, It has already been stated in these despatches that Martin, who professes to know @ great deal about the Alaska matter, had expressed his readi- ness to be examined to one or two members of the Committee on Public Expenditures, but they have 8o far declined to examine him. There seems to be some hitch about the matter. The Sergeant-at- Arms of the House declared that he could not find Martin to serve a stthpcena upon him. It is surmised that he did not make much effort to find Im, because Mr. Martin has been in this city all the time. At the meeting of the committee to-day, Mr. Getz, of Penusylvania, calied attention to the matter, and handed the acting chairman, Broomall, of Pennsylvania, Mr. Martin’s address. The Sergeant-at-Arms was djrected to summon Mr. Martin to appear to-morrow. The St. Thomas Purchase. The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations has appointed half-past ten o'clock next Tuesday to hear General Raasioff, Danish Envoy Extraordinary, on the question of the sale of St, Thomas. The Genera! isin rather feebie health, and the committee have resolved to postpone other important business to hear the Generai’s eloquent plea in favor of the pur- chase. They feel disposed to extend him every pos- sible courtesy, as he is a gentleman of very fine manners and accomplishments and of exceedingly persuasive address, He has made a very favorable impression on the chairman of the committee, Mr. Sumner, and in fact on all the members with whom he has come in contact, The treaty, it is expected, will be favorably reported to the Senate. ‘Tobacco Dealers in Convention. A number of leading tobacco manufacturers and deaters, from all parts of the country, are now in this city. They come here to consult in regard to proposed changes in the Internal Revenue law and unite their influence in securing some modifica- tions. The held an informa! private meeting at the St. James Hotel this morning and to-morrow will formaily organize. The Convention is the largest of at the Capitol tolay and spent some time in both houses, This evening he was calied upon by Senator Cameron and the eniire repubkcan delegation from the kind ever heid in this city. The Duty on Barley. Frederick Laner, of Reading, Pa., president of the United States Brewers’ Congress, ieft here last night for Reading. He has been here urging upon Congress the advisability of removing the duty on barley. He argues that the price of barley rates higher now than wheat, and no injury can be done to agricultural interests by taking the duty on barley off altogether. Western Mining Operations. Mr. Rossiter Raymond, Special Commissioner on Statistics of Mines and Mining, and successor to J. Ross Browne, has just submitted to the Secretary of the Treasury his report on mines and mining opera- tions west of the Rocky Mountains. Tbe report is quite voluminous, and was to-day tranamitied by the Secretary to Congress, New Cavalry Tactics. The board of cavalry officers, which has been in session in this city for some time past, engaged in examining a new system of cavairy tactics, has left here for the West for the purpose of putting the new tactics to a practical test. Customs Receipts. The receipts from customs from January 11 to 16, incinsive, were as follows: Ne Philadelphia. Baitimore .. . San Francisco (from Dec. seeee $3,377, 706 ‘The Supreme Court, In the Supreme Court of the United States to-day, on motion of Henry Stanbvery, Henry T. Kyle, of Ohio, was admitted to practice as an attorney and counsellor of this court. On motion of B, F. Curtis Chauncey Smith, of Boston, Mass., was admitted to practice as an attorney and counsellor of this court. On motion of E. L. Goold John Reynolds, of San Francisto, Cal., was admitted to practice as an at- torney and counsellor of this court. No, 4%%—The United States, liants, vs. Augns- tin Olvera.—Appeai from tne D Court of the Uniten States for the Southern District of California. On by Sonee hoary as ee for the ap; wis rt u Hogkecee nnd dismissed, dundhnnertiey No, 6—Ethan Allen, Gepellent,. va. Rotlin White et bs tiersrenauite casks cotta by Mr. Keller for sppellees. pragepenbinser ‘The Court adjourned until Monday morning next. Personal. Mra. Tatterson and Mrs, Stover, the President's daughtets, left here this morning for New York, where they expect to remain untli Saturday next. THE FORTIETH CON ‘Third Session. SENATE. WASHINGTON, Jam, 21, 1860, PRTITION FOR AMENDMENT OF THR CONSTITUTION. ‘The PReStENT presented a petition of the citizens of New Jersey for @ constitutional amendment se- curing equal suffrage and a petition for the exten- ston of the Eight Hour law to other than government employés, both of which were laid on the table, BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS, ‘Mf. POMBAOY. (rep.) Of Kan., offered # resolution requesting the President to furnish the Senate with & copy of the report of Major General Harney, com- mander of the Indian district north of Nebraska, concerning the and conduct of the Sioux and other Indians, Mr, SU4NER, pep.) of which was adopt Deas of 5 to mn ne jegisiation is necessa) regulate the ton of prisoners convicted in the District to distant where their sentences are to be enforced, Mr. MORRILL, (rep) of Me,, introduced a bill to regulate the of the tonnage tax. Referred on Finanee. -=" -* ATE TAX ON PASSENGERS. Judiciary, and made a brief argument to show how it should be done. He cited the law of Maryland, enacted in 1832, sae mupengpen hy at various amended, rea the Baltimore and Ohio. to pay into the State Treasury one-fifth of the fare levied on each Rime od between Baltimore and Washington, and the similar law of New Jersey, re- guiting the Camden and Amboy Raf!!r.ad to pay into a mane pat te fa at 'y Teceiv eer fre a1 carriage. The tax in both though nominally collected from the railroad companies , was realiy a tax on passengers and upon travel, and the Jaws imposing it were void, because in violation ofthe constitution, which gives to citizens of the United States a common country, and rantees to every citizen the right of free travel throughout every part of that country without taxation, inter- ruption or obstruction hy State law. These laws of Maryland and New Jersey, although 2!ways in gross violation of the general tenor and spirit of the con- stitution, were not, perhaps, in direct violation of any pemionise provision of it previous to the adoption of the fourteenth amendment, whien provides that no State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunit‘es of the citizens of the United States, because the right of free travel was one of those immunities, and a tax upon that right was an abridgment of it. For twenty-five years aryland and New Jersey had filled their treasuries the expense of the people of the whole country, a as the abnse wonld certainly c ced this bill making it a misdemeanor to pay or levy suct a tax. end giving the Supreme Court of the United States appeliate jurisdiction in any case which might arise under the law, Mr, VRELINGAUYSEN, (rep.) of N. J., said the bill and the argument of the Senator from In Morton) were hostile to the interesis and frieni!y to the the interests of ra! of the State tax walle they were allowed at the sane time to retain their existing franchises. He therefore wished to be heard, before the reference of the bill, in defence of the interests of his State, AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITEMON. Mr. Wintiams, (rep.yof Oregon, ge notice that he would. at the proper time, offer the following as a substitute for the constitutional amendment in r gard to suffrage, reported by tue Judiciary Com- mittee:— Congress shall have power to abolish or abrogate any re- strictions upon the right to vote or hold office preacribed by the constitution or laws of any State. R OREGON RAILROADS. Mr. Howarn, (rep.) of Mich., introduced a bill sw plementary vo the bill to grant public lands, and in the construction of ratiroad and telerravh lines to resald ace ror cH it, and have the right to bring suits tn United (Goarias ant the Judge of the United States District Court for the district in which suits are br ‘ht shall fasta fans Gr compenan en ic, 'Scoranae to the ammount ot lor ing Iabor performed aad to the interests of the of the me renee S880. 6 That no national banking the passaze of this act, make any | U1 Rotel, oF on the ctronlathig notes of any nations! banking as- sociation, as collateral, and all loans or contracts made upon ‘such collaterals shall be void. " THE AIR LINE RAILROAD. The morning hour having expired, the bill went over, and the Senate resumed consideration of the bill to promote commerce among the Statea, «c, 1e rted by the committee Mr. Vickers, (dem.) of Ma., made a lons speech in opposition to the bill. in the course of which he said t Maryland enterprise had 0} Toad communication with Waal n, never hesitated to grant charters for the tion of needed railroads and canals, Mr. SPENCER, (rep.) of Ala., moved to amend adding at the end of the first section a proviso the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad may be adopted as & part of the road between Washington and more conteinpiated by the act, upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon by the New York and Washington Railroad Company and the Balti- more and Potomac Railroad Company,’ which was to. , SHERMAN, (rep.) of Ohio, moved to strike ont the last two sections of the bill providing for the Cleveland ard Cmeinnati roads, so as to make the bill vide only for a road between New York and Washington. ‘The amendment was agreed to. * Mr. Wint1a¥8, (rep.) of Oregon, moved to amend the twelfth section by striking out the clause pro- hibiting a higher rate of taxation of the property of this road than on other roads within the State, and to insert a provision “that other taxes may be levied upon said road, and in the same manner, and to the same extent a3 taxes are levied upon the property of other roa‘ts.”? Mr. Conktine eaid the bill was to be instifed, if at all, under the clause of the constitution empowering Congress to blish post oifices and post roads: the proposed ‘oart betng established py the bill as @ post road. the question arose whether, under the indichal decisions on tie snbject, tt should not be en- tirely exempt from State taxation as an ‘“inetrue mentality” of the covernment of the Tnitod States, nex, Ware and Sree. briefly jon, and the amendment of Mr. opied. (dem.) of Wis., moved to amend tion so ag to make the concent of the res of the States through which the reads pass necessary to authorize the company to pur- chase the necessary real estate, &e., but withdrew the amendment temporarily. Mr. WHLLey, (rep.) of W. Va., said that he was not quite satisfied of the constitutional power of Con- gress to pass this bill: but of the presstns necessity for greater facility of railroad communication wit) the national capital there could be no doubt. He then moved to-arzend the bill by providing for a road from Washington to the Chesapeake and Ohio Rall- Staunton, Va,, which. he said, need es long and would open a ‘direct rail- between Wasuington and the Ly road at or ne: wir. SHERMAN favored the constractton of ralroads, but preferred that % should be provided for ina separate bill, becatse ne wished the vii! under con- sideration to provide merely for a road between Puget Sound, Referred to the Committee on Pacific Railroads. PROHIBITING SECRET SALES OF GOLD. Mr. CONKLING, (rep.) of N. Y., introduced a bill to prohibit the secret sales of or purchases of gold or bonds on account of the United States, and for other purposes, which was referred to the Commit- tee on Firance. It provides that hereafter no compensation of any amount or kind shall be allowed to any person for the sale, negotiation or exchange of any bonds or se- curitics of the United States, or of any coin or bul- Ton disposed of at the Treasury Department or elsewhere on account of the United States. It fur- x of the bonds of the United made by inviting the competition of the pubtic, by advertising for proposals for such exchange, ghar me or sales, which shall be awarded publicly ‘fo the best bidder or bidders, the Secretary of the Treasury reserving the mght to reject any such bids should he deem it best for the public interests to do so: and that all future sales of gold on ac- count of the United States shail be made at public anction oy @ proper officer of the Treasury Depart- ment, after giving public notice by advertising of the time and place of such sales. THE ROBERTS’ COLLEGE AT CONSTANTINOPLE. Mr. PATTERSON, (rep.) of N. H., offered a resolution, which was agreed to, directing the President to com- municate any correspondence on file in the Depart- ment of State in relation to the Roberts Coliege at- Constantinople. RELIRF OF THE SIOUX INDIANS. The PRESIDENT presented @ communication from the Secretary of Interior transmitting the esti- mate of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs of the amonnt recelved to relieve the wants of certain Sioux Indians in the Lake Traverse reservation. TIE NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILBOAD. fowarn introduced a bili additional to the ‘anting lands to aid in the construction of the Northern Pacitic Railroad, which was referred to the Commitee on the Pacific Railroads. 1t provides for & guarantee by the government of the navinent of the interest on the comnany’s fifty years’ six ceut bonds to the extent of $40.000 in bonds per mile, the United States to be secured by the retention of the sum due for government transportation‘and by oe receipt of two per cent on the road’s gross earn- ngs. USURY LAWS OF THE DISTRICT, Vickers, frou the Committee on the District of Coluinbia, reported @ substitute for the bill to amend the usury laws of the District of Columbia. It makes six per cent the lezal rate of interest, but allows special contracts for the payment of a rate not exceeding eight per cent, METROPOLITAN POLICR BILL. Mr. VICKERS also introduced a substitute for tne bill enlarging and defining the powers of the Metro- polttan Holice and regulating licenses, &c. TONNAGE TAX ON SPANISH VESSELS, Mr. CHANDLER, (rep.) of Mich., introduced a bill to regulate the exaction of tonnage tax upon Span- ish vessels, which was referred to the Committee on Commerce. It provides that Spanish vessels cout from ports in Spain or her colontes shall be requi to pay no greater tonnage duties than are exacted from United States vessels in such ports, Mr. MowkiLt, (rep.) of Me., introduced a bill to regulate the payment of the tonnage tax, which was referred to the Committee on Finance. It vides for the repeal of section fonr, act of March 3, 1855. and section fifteen, of the act of July 4, 1842, so that the tonnage tax imposed thercon shall be — only from vessels arriving from foreign AMENDMENT OF THE NATIONAL CURMENCY ACT. Mr. SUERMAN, (rep.) of Ohio, from the Finance Committee, reported the following bill to amend the National Currency act:— Srovion 1. Be it further enacted, &e., that section four of the aald act be so amended in read t the anid section shall re: ‘as. follown:—That every association, whener port necorting to the form w: reacribed by him, verified foxth or at the prestient or ceanter bo eniled for by the ‘an once in each quarter 0” the year, a , and ilities inte of the re Pel A H 33 i / i i is i H i] i i 5 [ 2% | i H H rr 3 j ? 3 i i E ; Hi 4 is. fF § 8 ze FH i $2 £ ? L i ps fi o'the Treasurer of tbe United the ° rc standing circulation fo lawful money, ‘tor shall ts ‘bonds ord. That there lowed to recetvers wag ela an are ee ‘ng ansoc fialonn the spall teh ia fa ‘compensation or Y commission Bf gmat ment tn a ret otea a 8 Pe Ona! sume above @IOHOS asa’ ait ence ng Pe fisting te col 6 per ‘on all sume ofer i zi Washington and New York. Mr. PomERoy said that he had been friendly to the bili in its original form; but if it was to provide for a road to New York, when there was a very good one already, he should take very little interest in it. The great need was for new railroads between Wasbing- ton and the West. and in that view the amendment of the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Willey) was really more important than the bill itself. Mr. WiLLrY withdrew his amendment at the sug- gestion of Mr. Sherman, and Mr, Doourrr.® moved the amendment which he had temporarily withdrawn. Z . ‘Yhen, at a quarter-past four o'clock, the Senate ad- jJourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIV[3, WASHINGTON, Jan. 21, 1869, DISTRIBUTION OF GOVERNMENT OFFICES. Yesterday Mr. SHAN«sS, (rep.) of Ind., on leave, in- troduced 3 bill to distribute the number and rank of |. government eiployés among the several Districts and Territories as follows:— Be it enacted, That, after the passage of this act, {t shall be the duty of the Secretaries of », War, Navy, Treasury and Interior, the Postmaster and Attorney General. Commise sioner of Agricuiture, Superintendent of Public Buildings and and the office: it a A of of the Honse anid Senate to a canse to be made alphabetical lists of all the employees in’ thetr respective te or forces, and, to correct ch hal be made, and to Keep said \ate in thelr several offices respectively, aul inspection. Tiste shall contain the name, ranie loves of the respective ments oF joyment and residence, giving tory, dealgnating those who have re army oF nary of tie Vulted Beaten. neverai Consreasion: organized territories anc the District of Columbia shail be’ entitled to equal numbers and ranks of employes in the said several Cepartments and forces, No district or territory shall have more than one of any rank until every district ant territory asterein provided for shall have ai least ono of the same rank; and all appol im said departwents foreen heroatter #ha!l ve eo) 4 the namner Tank of employs, ag above proviubd for; said equaiteation Of numbers an] rank of erapowee from the se eral district and territories aforesaid shall be mate by the fourth day of Mareb, eighteen hundred and seventy-one; provided that nothing herein contained shall be construe!'to regiiate the employment and service of day laborers, and boys under the ‘age of sixteen years. APPOINTMENT OF MIDSHIPMEN. Mr. Norns, (rep.) of Ala., from the Committee on Reconstruction, reported @ bili authorizing and di- recting the Secret: of the Navy to make the ap-~ pointment of midshipmen to the Naval Academy on or before the fourth day of March next, from anv State in which the election of members to the Forty-first Congress does nottake place previous to the first day of July, 1869, on the nomination of members of the House from the States represented in the present Congress; provided no such appointments shall be made from any State not by law entitied to repre- sentation during 1869, Objections having been made by Messrs, Wash- barne, of IIL. and Wilson, of Oblo, who ¢ referred to the committee, Mr. BLAINE, (rep.) of Mé@., said he understood the Committee on Naval Affairs avreed that this bill should be reported and placed in a position to acted upon. If this bill should not be passer seve of the Sonthern States would be deprived of mid- shipmen in the Naval Academy for an entire year, Mr. WASHSURNE, (rep.) of Tl, remarked it a peared from what the gentleman from “aine said that this bill was brought here to be passed by a flank movement. Mr. Buatxe replied that the jurisdiction of the House ts as the House construes it. and not accord. ns Og the construction of the gentleman. ir. PETERS, (rep.) of Me., understood that by the laws or rules of the department the nominations have to be made within certain months, when Alabama will not be ——— in Congress. Cer- tain States wanted the privileges as other States. If tt did not obtain it by this bill it would not get them at all. The gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Norris) had ie before the Committee on javal Affairs consented that the Committee tas P age ort aes | ae Sport the a ir. WILSON, 3 lowa, repeated that the subject belonged to the Naval and hot the Recon- struction Committee. The House refused to refer the bill to the on Naval Affairs, and then passed it, APPOINTMENT BY THE CENSUS COMMITTER. The SP#akeR announced the following renticmen as constitnting the select committee on Mr. Gar- fleid’s resolution relative to the taking of the next census:—Measrs. Garfield, of Ohio; Banks, of Massa- of New York; chussetts; Allison, of Iowa; Heaton, of North Carolinas Axtell, Cabfornia, and POLITICAL DISABILITIFS. laday, of Kentucky. ioe mig? bye he mgr for the removal of political ainavliics, under the third section of the fourteenth article of the consti- tution of the United States, to the Com. mittee on Reconstrur THE MISSOURI CONTESTRD ELECTION Case, jections, Galea up the resolutions hemnnae Se fore re- ported that George W. Anderson is not entitied to» Feet in thie House a0 © representative in the Fordeth from the N Sebort Congrenatonal district of bill to regulate < oe omm g the contestant, This By him, and the charges made by hitn ere pt Tg ES . A wan alte cya the committee ‘do mot it