The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-02-02

WASHINGTON, Feb. /.
The new call for troops was rendered nee
essary by the recent advices from the South.
1t is certain that the House will agree to
the section Of the Senate bill, which provides
that the draft shall be repeated in each dis
trict until the quota assigned is filed.
Mr.. Warfeld, of Baltimore, who went South
to obtain the exchange OF Mr.. White, of the
Pennsylvania Senate, has returned unsuccess-
full.
The committee on elections this morning
decided another Virginia contested election
case, refusing to admit either of the confess
tants.
The question of the tax upon whiskey was
again taken up by the Senate finance com
mittee this morning. The present indications
are that the Senate committee will disagree
to the House tax upon the stock of whiskey
on hand.
The Senate Finance Committee to- day
agreed to the tax bill, and it will be reported
to the Senate tomorrow Their decision with
regard to the wool amendment will not be di-
vulged until after the bill is reported. Secre-
tary Chase is understood to favor the amend
ment.
The House committee on ways and means
are engaged to-day on the war appropriation
bill. The original estimates of this bill will
be greatly exceeded, owing TO the Presidents
proclamation calling for 100000 volunteers.
The Senate finance committee has struck
cut the House tax on whiskey on hand.
Senator Trumbulrs report, from the Judic-
larry Committee, of the facts connected with
the release Of James M. Hunt from the old
Capital prison, and the connection of Senator
Hale Herewith, declares that the employment
OF the latter was purely professional, and that
he violated no law in accepting fee for the
defence of Hunt before any court, civil or
military, or even for endeavoring TO procure
his discharge from prison. 1t is held in the
report, to accept compensation for the prose-
cution of claims, or for obtaining contracts or
offices, or for transactng business in the sew
eral departments Of the Government is legal,
but not for accepting fees for services in judic-
ial bodies.
message from the President was trans
United to the Senate to-day, inclosng the cor
respondence relative to the request that per-
mission be given to our military authorities
to pursue the Sioux Indians in the Hudson's
bay territories. In a note to Lord Lyons,
dated the 2lst ult., Secretary Seward says that
these Indians should either be restrained from
making hostile incursions into the United
States territories, or United States troops
should be allowed to pursue, subdue and dis
perse them. report from Gen. Pope to the
War Department is included in the papers.
which shows that the English Government
has no force in the Red river region to con-
troi these Indians, ana that the Hudson's Bay
Company will give large quantities of provis-
ions for their subsistence If they will return
to the United States. Lord Lyons, in note
of Jan. 22d, says he has referred the matter
to his Government, by which he says it will
be Immediately taken into consideration.
The communication of the Secretary of the
Treasury, transmitted to the House to-day, in
answer TO a resolution of that body, contains
statements Of the practical operation of the