, 1863-05-07
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE, E,

CORRESPONDENTS.
From thc Rnppahannock.-R
he Earf I'M IN NEa.hinEt"n.1pars9'n Ea.i 1g
ton ut fredericksburg.
Especial Correspondence Of the Chicago Tribune.1
wAturxoros, May s. 1868.
FROM THE nAprAHANHooK.
In tho absence Of official Information from
tho seat of war, we hare all sorts of rumors.
It is well known the War Department has au-
thcntic news, but thus tar they have displayed
= power Of rcticcnco In that old shop, which /
would hare been highly desirable in former
stagcs Of tho war. Enough is known, how |
ever, to soy that the aspect Of aff,irs on the |
Rappshannock Is highly encouraging. The |
whole Of General Hooker'6 army Is reported |
to bo on the south side Of that river, and al
ready threatens the rear OF the rebel army.
The left wing crossed at Port Royal the day
after the passage at kelly's Ford, and sur
prised the rebels posted there, capturing 200
prisoners, and : large amount Of military
equipments. On yesterday morning, at day
light, four hundred more Of their men, au
sharpshooters, we're captured in their rife
pits, by sudden fink movement Of our
forces. Heavy firing Of artillery has been
heard there at intervals since, which is sup
posed to be the ahel1ing Of the woods by our
batteries, preparatory to an ndvance-
Tm FAST IN WASHINGTON.
Thanks 10 the peremptory order Of General
- $%11G rI1 ho E41ocnt
dealing establishments Of the city yesterday,
there was pretty fair show Of "sacR-cloth
and ashes." Some Fentnrous dealers, strick-
en- with pity At the for1orn appearance Of the
regular liners, who thronged about their
closed. doors, reveling In imagination upon
the delight within, attempted to *go one eye
on it,' but the movement did not escspe the
vigi1ant provost guard, and ended in decided
failure. Those who took time BY the fore
Of beverages beforehand, Jared well. The re-
strictions being removed in the evening, tho
rush Of the victims Of ten hours' abstinence
from whisky was only cqnalled by that Of the
annual pilgrim carsvan for the fords Of the
"sacred Jordan.h Upon the whole, however,
| the day was well, and to all outward appear.
! ance, teligiously observed, By the larger por-
| ton Of the people.
WASHINGTON, May ). 1868.
| PERSONAL.
| The wife Of Hon. Scuy1er Colflx, who has
been dangerously i'll for more than foul
| months, and who.e life for considerable
portion Of the time Has despaired Of, is rap
idly recovering
the adjournment IF Congress by her Illness
and WAS obliged to forcgo on her account hi
engagements duing the Connecticut cam
paiEn. She IL now 80 far recovered that b
thinks OF making brief visit home for fey
days, although she will still be unable to nc
company him.
INTERNAL REyESCE DECISION.
The Commissioner Of Internal Revenue hn
decided tbat all at1idayits must hare tis
cent. stamp, otherwise they will be Of n
: force.
LETTER FROM GEN. SCOTT.
The following letter from Gen. Scott c,
plains itselt 1t may be proper to. state
/ this connection that Gen. Scott receivesabot
c el3,000 annually from the Treasury Of II
!. United States, for which he performs no dnt
whatever. The Constitutional provision fl:
: Ing the salary Of the President, Us clearly d
, clares that his salary shall not be reduced
y the law cited by the Lieutenant General, =
!, Mr. Lincoln insisted on paying the tar upl
his income rs an example to the public:
NEw FoAK, March 7, 1867.
Hon. J. J. Lewis, Commissioner Of 1nternal Rev
nuc:
sm-1.,ai1 yoyse,r of the apnolntrent OF = ne
comnfssfoner 10 apneai from decision Of the
1ce asainst me- dated Dec. II, !86a. 1t Is due ho
e,ss, 10 Coy boutwell, to say that ny case was
J. would lnvc been otherwise, btE permission
o lay IL before you In the smallest number Of word
,e cfan r. 1s,1 srrtino 16 act Of 5urrsi sd 1S;i M
=, tbcsn snrf1e: That shout, the BEeyet Lieutena
Gener be retired under this act, it shall be sri
C. out reduction tn his current pay Or 0lonahte."
Now please cast your eye over my settlenc
with the Pa5master tcopy q tue account hete'El'
~. nern ~ thst mner tr Seei,iDn IN QUESTION s
~ wcrc dcducted from that month Pay, aubaIster
and allowance; to satisfy thu Internal revenue t;
The e3empIlhestlon mnsi eatlsly the mind,
I'll u w A sai1 ' ~ Gr,s unsia naeG H.
e'ns ne. ~ A'' ta'''' ~ et's'1' FA''
- have the honor to remain. very respectful
es Commissioner Lewis reply to Gen, Scot
a letter. obiccting to the assessment Of the n
- cnue tax upon his salary. takes the frrou
IL that, m ..snccial Dledge,7 WIS giycn ~ G,
1c gress, which thc l5w giving hitn q certain 81
IL r as retired officer, was passed Willie t
same law provides for the reduction Of
INV Of other officers Of the amy UPON rcti
al mcnt from actual service. he. by 1he claI
,ie referred to In his letter, was exempted o.
he from that reduction. The right to tax .
not 1nTulTLu, n0r waived in the passage
TINT law, and the subsequent taxation il ~
the object Of the law, but merely the cor
quence, and becomes necessary, in order t
OF the duty Of protection, which j. due to ey
ch citizen for his person and his property, Il
be be performed, aud tho sources Of income {
- served"
la' He alludcs to the necessity which made
s., levyinE Of the tax imperative. In the cont
he now ,snging for the existence of the natl
,... the s.largest latitude Of construction" shu
~ be s'assumed, III order to impart to the LAW
hs The efficiency Of which it Ii cap:ble, for
Of accomplishment Of purposes which every
,,h nj bosom must make its own-'
-, suspA1, May 8-a T.
s" Tn tn +b1s hour. all that ID known her
he Honeer,s movements. hevond what is alrt
rus 1nh1ies may he gunmcd IN as follows:
"a. The hulE Of Tookcr,s army. lcomnrisin
~, f.ct ali but two corps,) crossed The river
AeA the rI.lt. above Fredericksburg, uookc
nd. moyil7g With this culu1nu in person. and
the tcrdaY bis headquarters we're at Chauceu
NJ. vile, Stoneman, meanwhile, was expe,
Yesterday to strike the railroad between F
nts ericksburr and Richmoua. well down tow
on. tho rebel capital. and Peck Yesterday
"A | otders tn throw ont nfcEet6 from his ertr
-. ontnosfs AZ tnr AZ nossihlc. tn see if lIo r.,
~ ncaF onythfnnr Of Stoncman's doinrN. {
Ice, nohsihle. communicate with him. From =