The New York herald., 1863-12-18
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON, :
N~~~~~--e~->~~>s~oN>>.
~
Caucus of Democratic Member
OF Congress.
>>~>~~>D.>>~>-~>~~~>>~>>~
a War Platform for the Next PrsSi-
Dental Campaign.
No>~N~No~~->~~~.~~>~---N>uN~.
The Proposed amendments 10 the Internal
Revenue Act.
e~~~~~>~~-~~~~~~~.~~~~~~.~
Senator Hale's Defence Against the
Charge of Bribery.
~~~~>~N~~~~~->~o~~~~~-
The Pension Bill Passed by the
House,
&C, &C., &e

CAUCUS OF DEMOCRATIC CoNGREssMEN-THE WAR
THE PRESIDENCY.
The democratic members OF Congress held a caucus
Chs evening at the CaIiol, which very fully
Tended. The future policy OF the party discussed
snd general unanmity expressed in favor voting all
ebe nd required the vigorous prosecution
OF war. a committee appointed arr ,nge ana
seport ut a future etns the and place holding
tna National Denoc tc Convention for tho nomination
of candidates to be supported at the Presidential ecc
zion The caucus Chen adjourned to next Monday
ang number OF the border State who have
generally led with the democrats this session were
present eud took part the proceedings II is intended
so place he rary iaiy an sIaarely upon the paJ-
form and rs understood that those democrats who have
ghds tar acted upon pelce platform wl give IN their
adhesion TO the policy.
INTERNAL REVENUE ACT.
II rs understood that the Committee on ways ard
&eaus s preparrg bill acc7rdance " til III recon.
tnen0atons OF ths Commissioner o. Internal Eeyenue
sncreasng the taX on cotton fteen per leaf tobacco
evenly cont hsEey sixty per cent, ami
Giles OF luxury proportion. The Importance this
measure has boon strongly urged upon the
Congress and viii doubtless lead to Immediate eyat,on
upon the subject.
rBE DEPUTY COEnnssI0TER OF INTERNAL REvgS--E.
Charlton Lows, OF Cincinnati, to-day entered upon his
duties as Deputy Commissioner of Internal Revenue, to
THE ANrI-GOLD SPECULATION BILL.
ne not expected that the Gold Speculation Restrction
p, brought IN by Senator Lane, will be- passed. The
Says and Of coBierrmg upon Secretary OF tho
Treasury tbe power 70 control the gold Set under
considegatioD. Il is universally conceded that Mr..
lanes hill viii not eject the desired purpose u is
ued that the Secretary has already, existing aws
all the power and authority this respect ,hat be
given by law, but tha, he is unwilling - them untu
encourages to do ny sort OF action
preliminary endorsnLnent OF such course. The
chic difficulty 90 devise any Legislation whatever
which suffice abrogate tho natural trade
rss rHANN5 OF ooEGBEss TO GENERAL CHANT. =
The jont resolution OF thanks to General Graut, aud
proviang thai god medal be presented 20 him by the
President, for the distinguished and important services
sendored 20 the cause ot the Union during the present
war, reported from the Enrolment Committee to-day,
and passed the House This the nfst OF egsa-
sicn completed by the present Congress-
1t is intiBased here that something than simple
appreciation OF gallant service and substantial victories
prompts zoa OF oi the republicans Congress
10 honor titles gpon Gen. Graat, anI has it
Is hoped by conerrng upon him the rank Of Lieutenant
General 10 got him out or tie way Of other Presidential
aspirants
THE AaEsnNEsTs 70 THIS CONsCEfPrToH AOr.
Tho Military Committee Of tho Senate held session
chis evening and VIII 10 morrow report the amendments
10 the Ccnsoripton and 1t IL unders;ood they will DO
passeo before Senate adjourns tomorrow. tho bi
hs introduced by senator Wilson will be ameuded ia sooe
r its details but will not differ materially toE tho loEin
sn which il was referred 10 the committee.
.EsLisTsENTs IN The ARMY.
Vast numbers OF the ma,a composing the veteran rog
ents IN the UnioR arnies Being mustered into tho
service for three years longer The FIRST Minnesota reg
fpont enst nearly mass; she Vermont Brigade
nso With exospon Of sixty, and the First District OF
Coium ia with ueeriyshe same unanmiiy. The number
81 veterans VITO viii roencr the service from tho army
pi the Potomac alone will be- upwards Of twenty thou
eand and an equal not larger, proportion Of tho
keerSns 10 other armies VIII volunteer for thfoe ye'rs OF
kne war While the liberal bounty offered by tho general
,Iovernneu bas had much With tbs state q Affairs
phe granting OF furoughs OF thirty days % afford o
bato worn SOLD or opport nifty 20 visit hs home, mas
had much more Mauy OF the deseriioDs from the rank
sno ne are owiug wan, OF patr iosm, but 70 the
gsct thai tao deserers ons Cor short visit to the!r
bones.
he reply oc Senator Hac 70 the mputatlon published
ia the T,in of having accepted Dribo, ana tae tes'i
oony Of Senator Roverdy johnson Ia The matter, re
,arded as triumphant indication Of Ar. Hale, although
sn eIo may bA mGdc BY bis snomes 20 got mp resoiu
hon g. expe him upon tho precedent Of the simmons
p.se og the allegation o. similarity N accepting ios IS
o hwyor 20 defend citizen from criminal charge be
sore court sud being employed 70 procure contract
irom cue government.
.TrAcs on rHE ApNrSrsTEATroS.
NJ Fdger.on, OF ndsns introduced aseres OF resor-
hons dorolncirg tho Presidents suspcns'1n O. the
hsbeas corpus acl, Sc, 10 Tie usual manner but they
were quickly tabled There to be a disposition
bmong the opposition members to "piioh iu' some
neasure Of ule administration every seson cf he
piouse
PASSAGE OF THs PENSION ApPRoPRIArI0s BILL.
The nlst Appropriation rasssd IN the House today
b. og the OIL reported from tuo Committee Oh "ays sud
aeaus making appropriation or invalid and other peu
tcus. o. ihreo million $50 hundred thoussnl dollars.
A CorrgRuEAo Sta EpIsG SOLITARY AID AtONg."
, somo coumotson vas caosed 10 the House today by
fbo resolutions introduced oy Mr.. smith, o kcatlcy
hledgnr tho House vigorous prosecution of the war
an dora-irg ageus any armis,ce or intervention while
a reno, remained IN arms, g.. Tho r-olutiops acre
soed fo separately nud upon the and n rd reso
latioos nc vote was un,ninous With iho exception q
rananul e. HnrrE, o. Maryland, vno locms o. be N
inuch O. copperhead rondsr him almost worthy o'
benr raukcd a. rsbe some % the mider yps q -op
terhcads lodged tao vote entirely.
THE BUSINESS or TIE ucusr.
IL understood that The committees % the Rol'e arc
tr.tig oogsgsd In forwsfing tns Dmlncsf rcerroi 20
lhos, uut thoro wm be very nue mport'll elzaess
lransactel Until after tho h'id.ys
TNE ANY 4fNtH AtiVrf
Tue uomlns.,1r. u s,ua'p ol.ors T. Pc w'ds l the
heosto ~ beloved sih cot be ent N before Che nedle
5t1lauatv. Tue nunhor y un1esst,'i uow e. qul'
1man though bslore ihe list completed t Ti pr,oaty
De worry materially increased In view y th an uuu7na
suphuf of ll.nlry sgl pp,f.oa sirepulsr 1e.'-shg
he authorities SUPPORT 90 favortes but of l uueftu
bgpcaalrs made nose F BE- ao1cpted .nafs srose
r aairy and sarvlo eulIsie them 70 ooasderatcn
rnR onsyQrEs,cF GENERAL rrsorD.
Ihe runersI exercises General Buford viii take 90
bare on saturday s1d he gFeat num5a oi oacers
bo have arrived tor Toe purpose Of attend ng thcn
ehere reason 1sl'ovo nat tae ,ofsEo ' W 're o
IN most imposing Of Ao pa-. To-dag General Merritt
komrn diaz too division. ths 1-aT orf rrr ulaioer
,f officers, cane fran tne o. clte q. absence
tor the purplsc ci partelp1ting m the cerenor.
nroEGASnsrtos 90 rms chvALgy snyicr
s understood thsi important bi fol lle o'fali