New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-12-23
PROBABLE ACTION OF THE SENATE
The Banks Expedition Transports,
Investigation Of their Chartering,
Defenses Of the Lakes, and Canal Enlargements
The Case Of the "Thames," Of the
Banks Expedition.
,eci.l Di,patch 10 The N. Y. Trfbuns.

Special Dispatch to The N. Y. Tribune
WASHINGTON. Monday, Dee. p, 1862.
TIE RETURN OF MEsSRS. SEWARD AND CHASE
TO THE CABINET.
Those who hail the return Of Mr. Seward 10 the
State Department as the salvation Of the country
ascrbe the merit Of the work which brought il abont
Jointly to Secretary Chase and the President. Mr..
Chase having sent in his resignation, ia said to have
firmly refused to withdraw il IL Mr.. Seward retired
from the Cabinet. The President as firmly refused
to accept the resignation Of either. To Mr.. Seward
be said that although his feelings and interests per.
haps dictated his withdrawal from the Cabinet Ct
this juncturc, patriotism required him to stay and
help him through bis administration; and inasmuch
as his persistence in leaving would deprive him of
the services Of Secretary of the Treasury whom
he leaned he was doubly bound to reconsider his
determination. II is said that the President them
with pleasant imperiousness, ordered both Of the
| Secretaries to return to their Departments and
resume their portfolios, and they both pleasantly
| did 90.
There is sufficient truth in the detailed history Of
recent events, which ono of your cotempofaries
published this morning, in the form Of letter from
Washington, to show OF least, that there has been
some violation of confidence somewhere To point
out all the inaccuracies Of the letter in question:
Of those printed In o.her Nsw-York journals would
be q thankless task. Suffice it 10 say, that in
whatever points they conflict with the statements
forwarded you by letter or by telegraph, and printed
in to-day's TRIBUNE, in respect to what passed in
caucus or at the White House, they are incorrect,
and that the tone In which they are written is cal
culaed to convey an erroneous impression.
The Republican Senators were as we have preyi-
ously asserted, practically unanimous in favor of
" partial reconstruction" Of the Cabinet, by which
large majority, and eight out Of nine members OF
tho Committee, the disseDtient being Mr. Harris,
meant TO intimate an opinion that Secretary Seward
ought to DO among the retiring ministers, not be-
cause he was personally Objectionable, but because
he was considered serious obstacle to the success.
full prosecution Of the war. The caucus arrived a,
its conclusion after deliberation aud discussion. The
Committee whose names we have already printed,
whom il selected embraced some Of the best men in
the Senate, aud was headed by Senator Collamer,
never classed as radical. The paper which he
read to the President end the remarks with which
the other members OF the Committee followed, were
characterized BY the utmost kindness aud respect.
They approached the painful duty, which in their
Judgment the exgencies of the times and the voice
Of the loyal people demanded at their hands, in
spirit not Of dctation but Of frendipess toward the
Chief Magistrate Of the Datiou whom they hadheped
to install aud were determined TO support. This was
the spir OF the caucus as well OF the Committee.
What course the Republican Senators will take, now
tina, Secretaries Seward and Chase have Withdrawn
In. tcv IF Inns
1t is not becoming that we publish the rumors in re-
gard to them. But it is significant that all in Wash.
instou save Rebel sympathizers look to the Senate
for action that shall be az once wise and brave, ana
comport with the dignity and the rights OF The repre-
q sentatives of States.
THE BANKS EXPEDITION TRANSPORTATION.
Senators Grimes, Morrill, and Kennedy are the
Committee appointed to LOOK into the facts con-
uccted with the chaItering Of transports for the
Ranks Expedition. The Government has informa-
lion going to show that one of the transports Of this
expedition WAS run ashore upon reef near Turtle
l,ay, in broad daylight, and under other circual-
stances tending to show an intention TO wreck her.
IuE DEFENCEs OF THE LAKES AND LSLARGE-
MENT OF CANALS
A, a meeting at tie residence of Representative
Arnold, OF now N".is- W VIVA
side. the pending bills before Congress for tie de-
fences Of tho lakes, AMI tie enarg mcnt OF the Eric
Canal locks and tia Michigan aud Illinois Canal, the
Senators from Wisconsin and IliIoi,, many from
Nav England aud numerous members from the
East ard West were rsesent. Vim. b. Ogden, Of
Chicago and s. ID. Ruggles, of Ncw-York, aud Mr..
Arnold made speeches which prodie iously confirmed
tho growing sentiment Ia faYcr o. ,hese National
works.
TIE JUDGrsnTp FOR INDIANA.
Secretary Smith WAS confirmed as District Judge
of Indiana to day. The name Of bis successor will
probably be sent into the Senate at once. l. Is su
POSED that Assistant Secretary Upshus will TO pio-
NOTED.
THE TRANSPORT THAMES.
Messre. Hubbel Everett q Russell StuTgi9, cwn-
ers Of the steamer Thames, have transmitted letter
70 the Senate, which Las been referred 70 the Select
Committee appointed to investigate tie chsrefns q
vesscls for tie Banks expedition.
The lttter states that tho Thames is new sieau
vessel GA tuns; that she was aaucled last Spring,
and was built of the best material, with frame
planking, and fastening equal to gunboat; that
her engines and machinery were entirely ne v, and
were made and put in by c. Ii. DelanaIer of New
, York; that Immediately on her complet
Tie boat was taken into tie Government