New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-12-11
FROM WASHINGTON.
Special Disyttch TO The ~ T. Tribune.
WASHINGTON, Thursday Dec. 10, 1863

/
THE PROCLAMATION OF AMNESTY.
The Proclamation subjoined to the Presidents
Message was written substantially in the form in which
it was issued several weeks ago. and the President II
time seriously thought If issuing it before the meeting
Of Congress Since its appearance the question has
been raised in official quarters TO whether the Rebel
prisoners in hands under the rank of Colonel may
not avail themselves q the amnesty offered by Pres
dent Lincoln in his Proclamation. Some persons think
that thrcefourths of the Rebel prisoners in our
hands would gladly accept the terms Of the amnesty il
includes them and the question thus becomes OF much
importance
GEN. GRANT on THE CORNERSTONE OF THE
REBELLION.
The following extract of q private letter OF
Gen. Grant. TO the Hon. T. b. washburne, dated Aug.
10 1863 sets at rest the question of yeracity raised by
The Herald with Senator Wilson, who gave the sub
stance without giving the exact language Of 1t in re-
cent speech:
The people Of the North need not quarrel the
institution Of Slavery. What Vice.President Stevens
acknowledges the corner stone Of The Confederacy Is
already knocked out Slavery is already Dead and can
not be rcsurleced. 1t would take standing army to
maintain Slavery in the South If 10 make peace
oday guaranteeing to the South all their former con
sintOna privileges. never was an Abohtlonisf not
even what would be called Anti Slavery but try Ia
judge fairly and honestly and it became patent 10 my
mind early in the Rebellion that the North and South
could live nj peace with each other except one
Nation, and that without Slavery. As anxious US 1 am
10 peace established would not therefore be will
ling To see any settlement until this question IL forever
settled"
-s't-.,-..s.. ESTIMATES.
Your correspondent may be pardoned for
calling attention TO the accuracy Of the estimates en-
hraced in his dispatches published in THE TRIBUNE OF
Nov. IS ard &C the correctness Of which was Of the
time called in question by iniormed writer's some OF
whom set the total OF the extraordinary sum OF
200 900 COO Our estimates. the contrary footed up
within s. O0 coo or S. 600 600 Of the official aggregate
exclusive Of the interest on the public debt Those for
tho War Deparimen, were Jess than $4,000 smaller
than the official figures Those for the Navy Depart
ment which were given at sl4e,oooo? in round mum.
bers are a little more than half million larger Tie
official estimates for the interest the public debt is
somewhat larger than ours. which was at the time
stated to be only approximate. But the grand total
which we said could not amount 10 much more than
SEQ 600 oOo is only about g. 10000 above that
THE SENATE COMMITTEES.
1t is understood that the Committee of the
Republican Senate caucus have agreed ~ retain the
Chairman Of tho Standing Committees. as they were
during the las. session The other members are TO b.
rearranged The Committee will probably be able TO
report TO tho caucus on Monday.
THE HOLIDAY RECESS.
Congress will probably take its holiday recess
from Tuesday or Wednesday the 2lsi inst. for two
weeks.
THE REPORT oP THE COMMISSIONER or INTERNAL
REVENUE.
| The report of the Commissioner OF Internal
Revenue is document Of considerable length. IL In
Inmates at the outset that the tax!aw viii require i'm
portant notifications TO adapt them 20 the needs Of the
Government, as they are asoertained and 10 the
settled condition Of public AID social affairs, when
that condition shall Re restored. But II b.
deemed unwise 70 recommend radical changes al
present but be suggests certain alterations
with view 20 the incfevo Of the revenue
Mos. OF the more important amendments suggested
have already been ,eegapbod you. are embraced In
the report Of The Secretary o. the Treasury Some 9th
ers are rs follows:
u The imposition NJ ,sx upon malt. Or iudciols en-
aryemcni Of the tax upon malt liquors. 20 81 ~ pei
barrel \ tax oftwo cents Oh artificial mineral waters
soda waters, taIsapar.la waters. ana other beverage
OF ike Kind usually sold in bottles Of two cents PEI
dozen II OF half pint less OF four cents FOR thoss
OF pint: per bottle Of larger capacity; sold Ia
srv other way five per cent ad valoreIn; increase
tax auction sales 20 one fourth Of one per cent Ia,
on slaughtered animals Of - cents head on horned
cattIc more than eight weeks old OF i've cents Oh
calves Of eight weeks old and less and Of ten cents OF
swine exceeding ~ pounds IN weight Tie taxation Of
productions or manufactures used consumed by The
producers or manufacturers being articles Of CONNER
caI value and which would be taxable If sold HE re
duction Of the tax the sale Of lottery tickets. tai
on the tunnage receipts and the dividends Of steamboat
ferrvbOat bridge. express, and gas companies Tar
Of d twentieth Of one per cent Oh sales at Brokers
Boards.
The Commissioner thinks that even The adoption Of
all his recommendations will not suffice % raise the rev
enue to q hundred and fifty millions. He adds. how
ever that the required may, perhaps be produced
by tax OF two per cent additional the general man
ufaoures Of the country. The cost Of collection II
stated TO be about six and two twenty seyentbs per cent
on the actual receipts Certain suggestions are made
with view % the decrease OF even this small per
centage.
THE PREPARATION OF THE NATIONAL CURRENCY
The report of the Controller Of the Currency
contains tho following paragraph; 1.-The work Of pre-
pairing tho national circulation has been attended will
unlookedfoI delays bat il is confidently expected. aftei
the banks already organized are supplied, which vii
probably be accomplished within the next two months
that all associations will be furnished with notes within
thirty days from the time bonds are deposited with th'
Treasurer Contracts have been made with the Cont
mental and American Bank Note Companies for engray
ling the plates for the g. $40 60. 50 and 500 notes
and the printing Of the Gyes and tens hes been com
menced. The delivery will soon follow. and through
The banks The people viii soon be put in possession
the muohdesired currency" The report is mostly dc
voted 70 the accommodation Of amendments 70 the Ma
tiona Currency act the mos, important OF which have
already been printed in substance in The TRIBUNE
AN IMPORTANT OFFICE VACATED
The election of Mr.. Ordway Of New-Hamp
sblre 10 the Office Of Sergeant Arms racates one