Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1863-02-19
From washington.

A resolution has been offered by Mr..
Grimes, in the United States Senate,
and adopted, requesting the President
to communicate to the Senate the char.
acter of the suggestions made by Sec
rotary Seward to NJ. Mercier, the
French Minister, which induced the
latter to undertake mission to Rich
mond and what representations NJ.
Mercier was authorized by the Score.
tary of State to make to the rebel au-
thorities. Without referring to the
fuller statements of the conversations
between Mr.. Seward and NJ. Mercier
concerning the mission to Richmond,
which arc said to be in existence, the
basis for the resolution Of inquiry is
probably found in the following por-
ton Of despatch from NJ. Mercier to
M. Thouvenel
"Mr. Seward said to me that /
might add, If l found an opportune
occasion, that in his opinion the North
was animated by no sentiment of
vengeance, and that for himself he
should with pleasure find himself
again in the Senate in the presence Of
all those whom the South thought il
fit to send thither."
Secretary Seward, in answer to the
call for information about NJ. Mercier's
visit to Richmond, says that. "Since
March 1. 1861, no communication d.
rect or indirect, formal or informal,
save in relation to prisoners of war,
has been held by this Government or
by the Secretary of State. with the
insurgents, their aidcrs or abettors ;
no passport has been granted to any
foreign Minister to pass the military
lines, except by the Presidents direc-
ton.
People acquainted with the ways Of
diplomats assert that the issue made
by Secretary Seward with Count Mer-
cier is likely to lead to that Minister'S
recall and yet it is said that the two
gentlemen dine and wine together as
usual.
The bill for the Illinois and Michi-
gan Ship Canal has been defeated in
the House. It is said, however, that
the friends of the measure do not de.
spair of persauding the majority to
adopt their views Of the political and
economical policy Of that work. Mr..
Arnold announces that he will on the
frst opportunity report the bill with
out the New York amendment.
Secretary Chase's finance bill pass
ed the Senate by Q majority. Mr.. Chase
was present and expressed great
qualification at the triumph Of his
measure.
The Senate. by four majority, voted
to tax banks one per cent. on their av-
erage circulation till April LIST, 1865,
and two per cent. thereafter. This is
the sole amendment made by the Sem
ate to the bill, as reported from the
Finance Committee. The purpose of
it. as stated upon the floor, is to kill
off local banks gradually. The bill
was finally passed by vote of 30 to 4.
The bill for general bankrupt
law has been defeated.
The bill to aid Missouri in emanci
pating her slaves, passed the Senate
% to Is. 1t appropriates $l0, 000, 000
for emancipation by 1876, or $40, 900
900 for immediate emancipation, the
State Legislature to decide within a
a year which they will accept.
Bills have been prepared only to
await an opportunity to be reported
appropriating ten millions of dollars
for the adjustment of slavery in Ma.
ryland, and a million and half fol
Western Virginia, and four hundred
and Fifty thousand for Delaware.
The Senate is beginning extra SEES
sions to hurry up its work, as the
close of the session approaches. II
now meets nightly at I.
The House concurred in the Sen.
ate's amendment of the bill for the re.
liefof the citizens of Minnesota, sui
ferers by the Indians.
The House has passed the bill in.
cooperating tho National Association
for the relief Of destitute colorcd wo.
men and children. This bill provides
for giving suitable homes and Chris.
tian instruction to colored women and
children.
The reception Of Tom Thumb and
wife at the White House on the 18th,
was the grandest affair Of the kind
since Mrs. Lincoln's great party.
Cassius NJ. Clay has stated that he
speedily returns TO Russia. and that
Bayard Taylor will return to this
country in couple Of months.
The sooner loyal people understand
/ tho trne state Of Affairs the better