, 1862-04-24
THE LATEST NEWS
By TELEGRAP PH.
FROM WASHINGTON.


Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune.]
WASHINGTON, April 3, 1862.
The visit Of the French Minister to Rich
mond, is still asitated in diplomatic circles,
which are entirely in the dark. 1t is not even
known whether he is acting underinstructions
from France, or onlyof his own nation.
Frank Blair's Bill, reported from the House
Military Committee, provides for the organ
ization Of Notifications board, composed Of
three engineers, one ordnance officer, one
artillery officer, and two scientific men,
TO consider the whole subject Of coast and
lake defenses, and report to Congress; and if
directed by the President, to proceed without
consulting Congress. The appropriation for
Notifications, aud such advances Of money as
may be made by the States, are to be expend-
cd under the direction Of the Board One
hundred and fifty thousand dollars is appro-
priated tor the Board. The Board Is to con-
eidcr the propricty OF constructing, and to To-
cate, navy yard and naval depot upon the
Northern lakes, 3 fonndry..for heavy ordnance,
and an aTmory aud arsenal west of the Ale
ghanies, aud additional arsenals and repair
shops.
By the same bill {Blair's) the number of
cadets is to be donbled, the additional ones to
pay their entire expenses yearly in advance.
Surveys and estimates are to be made for
ship canal aronnd Niagara river. The bill is
accompanied by yoluminons report.
An order issued BY the War Department
says no General can discharge OF accept the
designations Of volunteer officers, commits
stoned or appointed by the President, and un-
less such discharges arc confirmed by him,
they arc irregular, and void Of effect. None
but the President can discharge an officer ap-
pointed by himself The Secretary
has observed with some surprise that
this had been done by the commanders Of
one or two departments.
By direction Of the President, Brigade Sur
g ION J. II. Thompson, Of the volunteers, is
dismissed as an "alarmist," On recommends
tion Of Gen. Burnsides.
On recommendation Of Brigadier Gen. Sum-
ner, approved BY Gen. Mcclellan, Maj. Won
steinhause, Capt. Botticher, and Capt Camp
of the 6Sth New York;. Lieut. Lombard, Battal-
lion Adjutant OF the 8th Illinois Cav
airy; and Assistant Surgeon Williams,
OF the 1st New York Artillery; are, by
direction Of the President, stricken from the
rcls, for being captured while struggling
without authority beyond OUT out posts,
March 29th.
The Nayal Committee Of the Senate will
probably report in favor Of restoring the
Naval School to Annapolis.
The Military Committee Of the Senate, has
reported in favor Of the confirmation Of Maj,
Gen. Shields, and Brigadier Gen. ThomSs L,
Crittendcn, Of Kentucky.
Wclles has ordered from blockading Cap
tains, full reports up to this time, in assist
ancc to the Naval Con- mittce, Senate ordered
to bc sent to investigate.
Horatio King, Buchanan's Postmaster GEN
eral. has been nominated Commissioner under
the District act, vice Berrett.
Mr.. Sumner expects the passage Of his bill
establishing diplomatic relations with Hayti
and Liberia tomorrow. His speech advocat-
ing the bill WAS purely upon commercial aud
international grounds.
Confscation was the theme in both Houses
to-day, Tie vote on Mr.. Bingham's bill is
not decisive, Some Republicans feared au
acknowledgement Of property in slaves by the
United States courts under It. The debates
and votes al1 helped to the ultimate success
Of confEcation- Mr. Loyeloy has the floor
tomorrow. In the Senate, Davis Of Kentucky
took three hours more time to tell what he
thought about counscation. Mr. Sherman
followed him, declaring himself in favor Of
arming slaves, even as last resori. Mr. Col
lamer OF vt. speaks tomorrow.
The tax bill will be reported to the Senate
next week. or wcck after. The oaly changes
10 far are that malt liquors arc doubled, be-
ing taxed two dollars 4 barrel instead Of one
whisky is to be taxed as in the House bill,
except that some tax Ut is unsettled what} is
to be laid On that on hand at the time the bill
goes Into operation.
The result Of the Republican caucus was the
adoption of policy for condscation. The
Select Committee to be appointed will be
strongly for that measure.
ITO the Associated Press.1
WASHINGTON, April 25-The bill reported
from the Committee on Military Aff4irs au.
tAorzcs the President to convene Board to
consist Of two officers Of the Corps of Eugi~
officers of the Navy, two members selected by
reason OF their scientific and practical attain
ulcnts, and an officer of the Corps Of Engi-
neecs as Secretary. whose duty it shall bc 10
examine md consider our system of sea colst
and lake fortidccations with official reference to
such changes as may be recommended By the
commission, to be commenced aud prosacut-
Cd without the previous assent of Congress-
Tie bill further provides that the amount an.
propriated at this session for fortifcatons
shall be expended under the direction Of the
President upon such defensive works as shall
he recommended hE fEn
authorizes the President to accept any
sums Of money loaned or advanced
by the seyeral States for the
construction Of defensive works for the pro-
lection Of the States making such loans, upon
such terms as shall be agreed on between the
proper authorities: The Board is also reluir-
cd to examine ind consider the 1ropricty Of
| cnnstructinga a navy gard and depot on the
| Northern lakes; Of q foundry for heavy
er.nns, oTanssee' of and also an aTmory ard
All,glsany n;ouutains, aud for IN ad-
| i t;otal arsenal Of deposit and repair, and
| stall be subject to the approval Of the PresI-
| dent, 10 locate the sane at such points as shall
from purely n:!li:sTy considerations appear
bssti3r the Of the country. The bill also
pcr Of cadets at both the military and n1ya1
aeademy, n:nlher equal to the number
! allowed By the already existing laws
in those schools, which arc to be
! selected enc from each OF the Congressional
t Districts and Territories by the Academic
Board from among such applicants as shall
| apply for admission, ami who, upon examiua-
t1on, sha1l be deemed best qualified, provided
the number added shall have the expense de-
| frayed by parents or guardians, who shall be
| required to deposit with the Superintendent
OF the Academies each year, tho estimated
amount OF money necessary to pay all expen.
| ses for one year; the Cadets being subject to
all the rules aud regulations established from
time to time for the Government Of said Acad-
| emics.
| It is now said the visit Of the French Minis
| ter to Richmond, has no political Importance
| but Is on business connected with the Consul.
| atts- He returned to-day. His dispatches
went to New York, where steamer Is wait
| ing to take them to France.
| WASHINGTON, April 23.-The Finance Com
mittee Of the Senate has done with the ma
cbincry sections Of the tax bill, having made
such amendments as in Its judg gment were cal
culated to perfect the System adopted By the
| House, An effort was made to raise the t.,
On whisky and other distilled spirits to TWEEN
ty-fye cents per gallon, but the Committee Re
tanned il ut fifteen cents. The Committee de
cides to impose some change on stock OF
band on the 3oth Of June, when the act is te
go into operation, but left it to sub-comnit
Tee to decide how much it should be. tn,
tax on beer and other fermented liquors vii
be two dollars per barrel instead Of one dol
lar No other noteworthy rhenpas hare &-a