The New York herald., 1862-04-16
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.
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phases and sumberng preudces said to have been
developed; but the rmness Of tho President for what
he believes to be the best interests OF the nation sup
ported by the Secretary state and Postmaster General
amidst all the complications that existed prevailed
all opposition.
THE TAX BILL.
has been positively stated that the Secretary of the
Treasury has prepared substitute for the Tax BILL to
be offered in the Senate This is error. The secrs
tary only furnished much information 70 Senator'S m
regard TO matters OF Importance tending perfect the
Tax bill, and many amendments will doubtless bo based
upon this information and meet his approval The FL
nance Committee Of the Senate ndustriousy collect
ing, from every accessible source facts and figures
aid them In ascertainng the best mode Of raising
a sufficient revenuel with the least oppression OF
the people or Interference with the general trade OF
the country. Tho opinion prevails that will be best TO
approximate nearly possible 10 the English plan Of
placing high taxes upon only few articles, and those
exclusively uxurss such malt liquors. spirits horses
carriages railways, &C. The statistics furnish
basis for this system Of taxation II Ia shown for in
stance that there produced in 1860 about eighty
eight monsIof gallons OF distilled liquors for home
sumption, exclusive OF the amount exported. Il is
strongly urged that high tax should be imposed upon
this, and in order to simplify the tax and
insure its realization by the at the least cost
OF collection It should be applied solely to the crude
Spirits goes from the STILL tead of attempting
follow it through all the processes to which may sub
sequantly be subjected. It Is estimated that
Of nrty or even hundred millions of dollars may be
thus realized without injury to any branch of trade
and with little trouble to the government.
APPOINTMENTS CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE.
The Senate in executive session to-day confirmed the
following nominations
Governor E. D. Morgan, Of New York 10 be Major
General.
Carl Shurz, Colonel Nathan Kmball, of the Indiana
Volunteers.
Paymaster Benjamin Avord, OF the United States
Army Captain George l.. Hartsua of the Adutant Gene
RAILS Department. William S. Smith, of Ohio; Colonel Chas
Devens and Rufus Saxon both of Massachusetts, Colo
mel James H. Van Alen of the Third regiment Now York
cavalry and Napoleon B. Buford OF Illinois, to be Brga.
der Generals Of Volunteers.
Amos Perry, Of Rhode Island. was confirmed as Consul
toTurn.
NOMINATIONS BY THE PREsIDHNJ.
The following nominations sent to the Senate to.
day.
J. G. Mansasld Of Wisconsin, Consul to Bogota.
Leutenants B. F. Smith and Sheridan Wait OF Illinois,
to Assistant Adutant Generals with the rank Of cap
tains.
s. F. Elliott, Of California, 10 be Brigade Surgeon
The following nominations for msrtorous service in
the field have been made
Brigader General o. NJ MITCHELL Of Ohio, to be brsvst
Major General.
Colonel c. Davis Of tho Twenty second Indiana voun
teers; Colonel j. G. Robinson, or the First Michigan
Volunteers and Colonel Eugene A. Car Of the Third I'LL
nois cavalry, all to be Brigader Generals.
THE PROMOTION OF GEN. MITCHELL.
Brigader General Mitchell was nominated to-day for
Major General tho recommendation Of the Secretary
Of War for gallant services in the capture Of Huntsville
Decatur and Stevenson's Junction.
THE NAVY.
Tho following orders have been issued at the Navy De.
partment today
j. Milton Flint, of New Hampshire appointed Acting
Assistant Surgeon, to report TO Commodore Pauding.
Lieutenant Robert L. May detached from the Niagara,
to report for ordnance duty at Washington.
Lieutenant wm X. Mayo, to report TO Captain Hudson,
Of the sloop of-war Housatonc.
DEATH OF LIEUT.. SANDS, OF THE NAVY.
Information has been received here OF the death ON
the Pacific coast. Of Acting Lieutenant VIM. j. Sands,
Of the Commander Of the United States steamer
Active.
Count Swsintz Grain, late Aid-ds-Csmp to the Arch
duke Maxmilan Governor Of Venice has been tondered
appointment Of AiddeCamp upon Gen.. Fremont,s
sian. ~
THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY IN THE DISTRICT OF
C0LUMBIA-wHAT THE NEGROES THINK OF 1T.
The ardent expectation of the freedom shriekers in
ference to District of Columbia Emancipation BILL
have not yet been realized. The President still has the
bill under consideration. What he will do with it, is still
matter Of speculation. 1t is known only that while no
fvors the abstract proposition OF abolishing slavery IN
the District of Columbia the details of this bill not
altogether satisfactory and it gravely doubted il they
are constitutional.
The most intelligent Of the negroes whom 1t Is ostensi
bly, intended to benefit, deprecate its approval They
contend that instead Of enlargng, actually curtas
their freedom, and deprives them OF privileges
they have hitherto enjoyed They fear that free
groes they will be debarred from passing out Of the Dis
trict or from State into another, and that they will
bo entirely excluded from nearly all the States in the
Union. They fail to appreciate this nominal freedom
which in reality abridges their privileges.
CONGRESS AND IT'S ADJOURNMENT.
twill be remembered that resolution passed the
House reported from the Committee Ways and
Msans FOR nna adjournment of the present session Of
Congress with tho OF the Scnate the
third Monday in May next On investigation of tue
subec. appears that far exclusively the House Is
concerned, Congress could adjourn In days without
dctrimsnt 10 the countrys interests Although there Is
a vast number OF bills (both Senate and House) the
les, still the passage OF but very few absolutely ne
cessary at this time.
THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS.
In the course Of a week the above named committee
will make an extensive report on the result of its abors
from the Of the present session up to
this timo II will be Of the important reports
in financial and contracting point Of view sub.
med to this or any past Congress Accompanying the
report will be an immense amount Of evidence and this
evidence will only be manifest in facts aud figures
OF interesting character, but also disclose schemes
and contrvances OF the most ingenious kind aud in
some instances designs frustrated and plans and opera
tons unquahedly dscredable to the participants and
dsservedy meritorious Of punishment to merely pro-
fesssd patriots.
Before making tho report the committee will
have TO finish some OF its labors in New
York and Pennsylvania, and especially in Harrisburg
Tho report will not be much to imply as to
lay bare operations and leave II the good sense OF
Congress and the discriminating eye of the people to
discover where ault finding" is necessary-whers the