The New York herald., 1862-11-30
NEWS FROM wAsalksToM.
WAanEoros, Nov. %, 1882.
TIE APPROACHING SESSION OF CONGRESS.

THh APPROACHING SESSION OF CONGRESS.
me temper Of the coming session Of Congress has been
matter Of much speculation. The republican members
who have arrived here soured by the result Of the
recent election and determination has been manifested
70 make the session one exclusively Of business 1t u
anticipated that for the three months OF this Congress
talking viii be esohewed for business and that the work
to be performed will meet with prompt attention.
TIE ANNUAL REPORTS.
The reports Of the Secretary OF the Interior the
Postmaster General are the only ready for presena
ton to Congress with the Presidents Message The
others will be prepared with all possible dispatch That
~ he Secretary Of the Treasury depending it does
Lpn the reports from other departments will be
f detained until the others completed. The report
OF the Secretary Of the Navy will be ready probably by
Tuesday.
ARRIVAL OF CONGRESSMAN.
Members Of Congress have already become numerous.
The larger number however, will arrive tomorrow ana
on Monday morning.
THE CAPITOL POST OFFICE.
The branch Post Office at the capitol will resume its
business the meeting Of Congress- tho LIST of Decem
ber Every distributing officer is required TO make up
separate bag for all papers addressed TO mem
bers OF Congress- exclusive Of all other matter and such
bags are to be labelled, Congress, Washington d. c.
and route agents at Washington will deliver these bags
direct to the Congress messenger First Assistant Post
master General Randall in the order just Ssued says,
GAN postmasters who make up packages Of mail matter
for members of Congress and mail them direct Wosh
ington should write distinctly each package the word
Congress, embracing therein only matter for Senators
and representatives This will enable any distributing
Office through which hey may pass TO place them without
delay in a Congress bag"
THE DEMANDS ON THE TREASURY
The demands upon the Treasury outstanding less
tt.a,,
will DO absorbed in revenue payments by the LIST o.
February.
THE TAX STAMP FOR TELEdRAMs.
The Commissioner Interna, Revenue has given notice
that tho tax stamps for kilograms ready for delivery
and the enders Of messages will be required on aud after
Monday, December l. to place stamp each telegram
i'd cancel IT, with the date and the initials or the wrer
The telegraph companies throughout the country will
require compliance with the law and after Monday
next
THE M'DowELL COURT OF INQUIRY.
The Court Of Inquiry in the case of Major General
Mcdowell assembled day at twelve o'clock.
Gen. Mcdowell introduced W. D. wallach. Esq, editor
of the Sar as a witness under the first nquiry-corres
pondence with the enemy's commanders, with persons
within the rebel lines. In TO question from the
President to his knowledge Of Mr. Robt E. Scott the
circumstances OF his DEATH &C. Mr. said he knew the
late Robt E. Scott for thirty or forty years. He was
universally regarded, not only gentleman Of high
personal character and Of great public utility. but
prominent Union leader in the State Of Virginia He
understood TO have boon, perhaps tho last man In the
Virginia Convention to submit TO the ordinance of seces
sion aud declined to sign the ordinance momber OF
that body After its adoption ho returned to his estate
in Fauquier county and, submitting to the rule Of the
secessonsts arms he did not change his sentiments
with reference to the Improperly Of the It
in tha of and
from the time Of his return to Richmond until his
der he was constantly under the surveillance Of tue
thorities
The Court said though he did not wish 10 limit tho wit
their evidence 1t would be desirable that the
Court conne themselves far possible TO the points
at issue He supposed however that the testimony Of
Mr.. wallach had application TO the case
General Mcdowell said that he wished this testimony
presented In the precise had been show that
correspondence with General Anderson related an
object which, if accomplished. would be gratifying a.
well the Union sentiment to the secessonsls OF the
peghborhood which Mr. Scott resided before his death
The Court decided without reference to any further
testimony, that Mr.. walach should proceed With his
testimony in his own peculiar style.
Mr. waach, resuming his Testimony said:-A party Of
dcserters with in their hands, were swarming in
Fauquer county entering houses robbing and pilaging
the nc2hborhood They had ravshed two respectable e
males residing within few miles Of Mr.. Scot's home
He hearing OF it, sent to the nearest Union commander
urging tho apprehension OF these despeadoes and about
the time started, with a half dozen Of his
neighbors for the purpose In this attempt he
shot and killed His death caused infinite conster.
nation in the community, as the marauders escaped
punishment, and did moro to destroy the remaining
Union feeling existing In that section than any other
event of the war that had occurred up TO that time
oA-t..x.
other persons ordered yesterday which tho Court in
closed session ruled as irrelevant.
General Mcdowell presented 10 the Court his orders
Nos IL and TO- the first concerning rape aud the latter
the telegraph. General Mcdowell wished that his Or.
ders Nos IS, 6S and rs be allowed as evidence
on tho second inquiry in the plan established by the
Court One OF these orders relates 10 the inevitable
negro and is believed TO be the first case where he has
been treated in purely military point Of view He in
this order places all negroes who fell into his hands
Immediately at work In the supply department of his
army. His General Orders Nos and IS were also pre-
sented These relate to property akon from the enemy
Order No. Is refers to and corrects tho unauthorized levy
Of contributions from the enemy which had been carried
in his department without order from headquarters
The Recorder was directed 70 summon as witness
Professor Tefs, chaplain OF Massachusetts, regiment
whose letter presented by General Van Allen as bear
ing upon the case.
After a session Of two and half hours the Court ad
journed until Monday morning, at eleven O'Clock
Dennison has arrived here as witness on the
Mcdowell trial.
THE CONFERENCE or THE TAX ASSESSORS.
The Committee OF Assessors, who are now here, had
another conference Friday with the Commissioners OF IN
terna Revenue and with Mr. Este tho chief clerk Of the
bureau, who Is familiar with all tho details and the
points to be adjudcated Their business ia Washington
10 TIav bnid
Philadelphia to night. confer with the Asses
Of Pennsylvania. Their experience in the practical
workings OF the Internal Revenue law has pointed out
many detects, to which remedies have been suggested
and approved by the authorities here
APPOINTMENTS UNDER THE TAX BILL.
John r. Aveuze has been appointed Collector Of the
Second district OF Missouri Vincent st. vran Assessor
for New Mexico D. X Swan Assessor Third district Of
California, under the Excise and Direct Tax law