The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1864-01-29

man who has borne arms against this Govern
ment, or yielded aid and comfort to this afro
cious rebellion is unworthy of seat in Con-
gress. OF course this is damper on the
hopes Of politicians in Dixie and their attor-
ney, Revordy johnson, is working hard to
have it set aside, pie ding ngeniously, az
every lawyer knows bow to plead, for these
turn of the prodigals to the feshpots Of Con-
gressional patronage.
THE TAX ON WHIsKEY. er
While the Senators have been discussing
the Constitution, the Representatives have
been debating about whiskey-said tobe good
for the constitution. Some of your Philadel-
phia orators have at times waxed slightly
personal, and the discussions have been very
spirited. Thad. Stevens, who is Chairman
of the Committee on Ways and Means, want
ed to tax whiskey henceforth distilled sixty
cents per gallon. This would have permitted
the spectators, who have been boarding up
spirits in bonded warehouses, to have taken
them out at the old tax of twenty cents gal,
| lon.
But Fernando Wood, of New York, said mol
Ifyou tax what whiskey is to be made sixty
sixty cents gallon, tax what has been made
the same. If any has paid tax or import
duty Of twenty cents gallon, slap on forty
cents additions. In short, may every gallon
Of liquor for sale, foreign or native, whether
held by distillers, or merchants, or specnla-
tors, pay sixty cents gallon. This Thad.
Stevens resisted, but Fernando triumph.d.-
Now it remains to be seen what the Senate
will do. The new whiskey tax will, it is os-
timated, put fifty millions into the Treasury.
PHILADELPHIA Navy YARD.
The Naval Appropriation Bill as reported
to the House, gives, for repairs Of dry-dock,
S72,627 for pitch house, 81 1926; for dredg-
ing, 5000; for repairs of all kinds, $34, 700,
and for repairs of damage by fire, $4,000.
But the infexible guardians Of the public
purse expunged the estimate of $780, 900 for
Q fioating dry-dock, although we have several
Monitors So long that they cannot enter any
one of the dry docks now built
Congress is asked to purchase---at price
not exceeding S90,000-two lots of land ex-
tending from Front street to the Commission
er's line in tho Delaware River. This is a
sop to compensate for the indirect refusal to
accept League Island, and to establish a
Navy Yard there for the construction of iron
clads. UnmindfuSM all arguments present
ed in favor of League Island as n proper site
for this much needed public establishment,
the Committee Of Ways and Means follow the
lead Of old Commodore Smith, and, by way
of appeasing Philadelphia, recommend tho
enlargement Of the present yard.
Plan OF THE STRING CAMPAIGN.
1t is said that New York corresponds Mt
has narrowly escaped being sent to Fort
Lafayette, for disclosing the project of maxi
ing simultaneous double advance ON Rich
monotone direct from here, and the other
by the Peninsula. If this can be done by
sufficiently large force, the stars aud stripes
will soon float over what is now the rebel
Capitol.
Yet it hardly seems probable that tho
rebels will have previously evacuated Rich :
mond. Virginia is naturally well-fttcd Tor
defensive warfare, and it is very evident that
Lees army is disposed to recommence hestil-
ties as soon as the mud dries up, especially if
that be before the return Of the ie-enlisted
men from their furloughs Besides, many If
the regiments now at their homes will return
to the Army Of the Potomac recruited to their
full strength.
EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS.
General Ben. Butler has been up here to
nopcu1f tI,o k;s.l, r. n
about the exchange of prisoners. If cur
authorities really desire to exchange prison
: ers, Gen. Butler can do it, hut he must do it
in his own way-man for man and officer for
= oficer-and neither be hampered by red tape
!, or trammcled by orders from Washington.
u Well acquainted with the South and with
i the Southern politicians, Gen. Butler is the
9 man to bring them to time, and now that he
y has laid his programme before those in pow
9 er, 1t Is to be hoped that it will be approved,
u and that President Lincoln will clothe him
Il with plenary powers to negotiate and to con-
! duct exchanges.
If the President will but do this, it will
y not be long before the poor fellows now Ian
It gushing on Belle Isle or in the Richmond
e tobacco factories will be restored to theil
d families, and will soon again be beneath the
+. old flag, ready to punish those who so cruelty
'e treated them.
&c THE HOUSE ENROLMENT BILL.
d The substitute reported to-day by Repre-
!; sentative Schenck, from the Committee OF
+ Military Affairs, for the Senate bill, amenda
x tory Of the enrolment act, makes the quots
le proportionate to the number subject to the
L. draft. If the quota shall not be filled by tn,
first draft, it allows to be employed as substi
tutes persons not liable to draft ut the time
F or who are not already in the service, Addi
70 tions to the existing enrolments shall be mad
h of those omitted before viz: young men ar
= irving at the age of twenty and persons whC
nc have been in the military service less thar
= two years, and all persons Of foreign brit
who have ever voted at State on territorial
!, election. Any man drafted may, within
!: eight days. elect to enlist in the naval service
but pilots, engineers end masters-at-arms il