, 1863-03-03
FROM WASHINGTON.
4 BUSY DAY. IN CONGRESS

Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Tribunc7
WASHINGTON, March 2, 1863.
Rear Admirn1 Porter's dispatch announcing
The loss of the Indianola below Vicksburr,
causes the profoundest sensation here.
The following call for Ship Canal Conrcn-
tion at Chicago, in June next, has been
signed BY nearly ninety Senators and Repre-
ecntatiyes:
Regarding the enlargement OF the canals between
the valley 81 the Mississippi and tho Atlantic, of
great national, commercial and military importance
and astending to promote the development, pros
pesity and unity Of our whole country, we invite n
meeting Of all those interested in the subject in
Chicago on the first Monday in June next.
We especially ask the cooperation and aid Of the
Boards Of Trade, Chambers Of Commerce, agricu1-
tural societies, and business associations Of the
country.
Military Committee today and explained the
bill just introduced, cmbodying the labors Of
the commission to revise the army regula,
tions and articles Of war, Of which he was
President.
Persons in some parts Of the country who
have failed to understand fully the operations
Of the clause in the conscr1ption bill fixing
the price OF substitutes at three hundred dol
lars, orc making some clamor agaiust it,
though 1t is believed that when 1t comes to
be fully understood, they will leave secession
sympatlizers to have the monopoly of fault
finding with this bill.
The Why's and Means Committee have
agreed to reduction of duty On printing pa
per from IS to 20 per cent.
The bill for two additional Court of Claims
judges, which passed the House to-day, will
probably pass the Senate tonight. Bingham
Of Ohio, is thought almost certain to be Offer
ed one Of these judgeships. For the other
there are host Of candidates.
The extra session Of the Senate has been
called by the President In the proclamation
Issued to-day. It Is announced here that the
Secretary Of the Treasury has decided to issue
no more twenty-five or fifty cent postal cur
rcncy bills In consequence Of numerous coun-
tcrfeits.
The bill indemnifying parties for arbitrary
arrests, Is postponed in tile Senate till this
evening, to give Richardson, Bayard and 9TH
crs an opportunity to debate on 1t. Trum~
bull forced them to give IN intimation that
they would not flllibuster, before he agreed to
the postponcment.
The House las been fillibustering all the
afternoon on the bill for re-organfzing the
judiciary Of tllis District. The Republicans
try to press yote-the Democrats declaring
they will flllibuster till the end Of the session
before permitting it to pass. About the only
significance the bill has is, that 1t will turn
Wickliffc's .law-a notorious secession
sympathizer-out Of fat Federal office.
It Is stated here that the Government has
advfces from Vicksburg Of the success Of the
canal.
The latest adyices from the South Carolina
demonstration are that Fosters staff officers
lied abominably when they said there had
As they took special pains to circulate thclr
statements; 1t is proper they should thus have
credit for them.
The appropriation for the military academy,
the invalid pension, consul and diplomatic,
post office, army deficiency and fortidcation
bills, which have been passed by Congress
and approved BY the President amount to
ss68, ,2237, 1865. The naval and Legislative
bills passed, but not yet approved, amount to
about eight millions, The civil or miscella-
ncous bill is still pending.
The tax law is amended By the Senate so rs
10 impose two per cent. on water emit here.
| after to be built. None on ready made cloth
ing, but three per cent. on custom work.
| The collecting compensation is cut down
| from ten to five thousand dolla1s exclusive o1
| expenses.
| 4. II p. m., tile debate on the indemnity
bill was commenced by Mr.. Wall in au elabo.
rate speech in opposition.
WASHINGTON, March 2.-The Surgeon Gen
has recommended Congress to pay DR., Nor
ton eco forthc use Of ether in the army
| and navy.
The f7mes' special says Cassius n. Clay
will be confirmed IS Minister to Russia, Sc'y
Seward having personally urged 1t.
WASHINGTON, March 9.-The President ha.
issued proclamation calling IN extraordi
nary session Of the Senate on the 4th O.
March to receive and act on such comnunica
tions as he may make, mainly on civil anG
military nominations.
Gen. McClcllan's testimony before the Wa
Committee on Saturday related principally t
was fought against his. is.judgment. &c asket
permission 10 submit statement Of th'
whole subject In writing, but the COMMITTED
declined to receive it, rs they wished only re
plies to direct questions on specific points
His examination continues to-day.
NEW YoEK, March 2-The New Yorl
Times special from Washington says:
The Senate will be convened In Executiy
session after the adjournment Of Congress
for the purpose mainly Of considering til
military nominations made by the President
which cannot be reached before the 18th.
The report Of the Mcdowell Court Of In
quiyy censures him for leaving his comman
on the evening Of August q, to meet Ger
Pope at Itnassas Junction, without orders
and during which absence Kings division VIZ
attacked by the rebels. The finding Of til
Court is approved By the President.
II Is stated that the President will immed
ately call out COZ, GOO men under the ConscriI
tion act.
It is said that Representative Gurley, {
Ohio, will be nominated for Governor {
Arizona, on Wednesday, and Richard AcCo
mack, Secretary.