The New York herald., 1864-12-06
Financial Measures Of the Sec
retary Of the Treasury:
Increased Taxation indispensable to
tho National Credit.
The House Committed 10 Taxation Of Stocks
Of WhiSkey on Hand.
RETIREaEsT OF TIE BRITISH MINISTER,

TIE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE AND THE DEPARTMENT
REPORTS.
The Presidents Message will be shortnot logger thar
last year, IS long II makes about twelve octave docu
ment pages.
In addition to the Navy and Post Office Department
reports the Interior Department. report was finished
to-day, and sent TO the printer, and will probably be
ready tomorrow.
Secretary Fessenden's report will be sent in with the
Message, before It is printed
The War Department report s not yet ready
INCREASED TAXATION INDISPENSABLE TO THE PUBLIC
CREDIT.
1t sundesood that the Secretary OF the Treasury will
strongly urge upon Congress the necessity increased
taxation, Indispensable to tho maintenance or the
public credit, and will recommend particularly that .
largey Increased tax shall be imposed upon whiskey
leaf tobacco Articles Of luxury and common best
able TO bear taxation. He will also recommend tina, no
more bonds, with the interest payable god shall be
issued and that legal tender shall be substituted
tor the interest bearing notes lately adopted supply
the wants Of the Treasury.
OPENING OF CONGRESS-.
The second session Of the Thirty-eghth Congress ia
fairly commenced For the hour preceding twelve
o'clock there very jolly gathering OF members
OF the House 10 the Representatives, Hall, and
tho greetings were cordial and hearty after their
long separation. Republicans and democrats manifested
equal qualification at meeting again. and it evident
that the acerbity Of partisan warfare had not embteed
their personal feelings body seemed to feel happy
and to rejoice the brilliant prospects before the
try OF speedy termination OF the rebellion, and the
restoration OF peace through military and wise
statesmanshp.
At twelve O'Clock the House called to order and
about ono hundred and twenty-five members answered
to their names, and the Speaker declared quorum
present and the House ready for business. The
day was . pleasant one, and the sentiment was
generally expressed that Congress had commenced it,
session under favorable auspices. The galleries
crowded, and large number Of ladies' in attendance,
anticipation Of the reading Of the Presidents Message;
bus In this they disappointed, not being ready,
and announced To the readers Of the HERALD
day, Wiu mot be delivered until to- -morrow.
TIE LOUISIANA CONGRESSIONAL pKLEoArIor.
The question In regsrd to the consstusionay Of the
rsorganzing and restoration OF the insurrectiouary
States up today, the presentation OF the Gre
dsntiais Of the Eve members elect from louisiana Mr.
Davis, OF Maryland, presented remonstranoe TO their
admission which, with the credentials, was referred to
the Committee on Elections. This matter is likely to
lead TO protractcd discussion when reported from the
Election Committee as the administration party are
divided n regard recognition OF the state govern
ents already Instituted n the rebel States. II s very
dou btfui whether these Louisiana members win be ad
mitted.
TAX ON STOCKS OF wHIsKEr ON HAND.
Hon. E. B. wsshburne, with bis usual psrsinacity,
brought stocks Of whsxey on hand before the
House at the earliest possible moment to-day and con-
siderable afforded by his introduction OF
. resolution iDstructing the Committee OF Ways and
Means they should decide increase the tax on whis
kew 10 provide for tax on Of whiskey hand
The yeas and nays were called times motions
TO lay on the table, 6c.; but finally adopted by
yeas 53 nays ST. Some Of the members remarked that
Mr. washburne seemed TO have the tax on whiskey
on the BRAIN he in such hot haste to get an early
expression Of the House hs hobby. II Is plainly I'M
derstood that the Introduction OF this resolution simply
to Keep the wnskey question, as was last session, .
sor. OF shutecock for SPECTATORS play with during
tho winter. The game was played extensively at
the last session. aud when the pinch came numbers who
had voted resolution TO tar Eock on hand de-
clned TO vote for the bill imposing the iax.
A ooNaRIssMlN IN A MrIrrAKY DRESS.
This is the nrst time that member OF either House
has presumed to appear his scat IN military unifor
snd 10 say nothing OF tho glarng improperly OF such
proceeding in the worst possible TASTE II 10 the
military SERVICE Mr. Cobb had right to seat Ia Con-
eress and member OF Congress, he has DO right 10
wear the uniform Of officer in the military service
THE PRocHrpIgos OF THE SENATE.
The Senate resumed lie iabors day in s usual quiet
manner, II but single night had elapsed since nd
n
than was anticipated, many arriving by the morning
trsius and Immediately repairing TO the Capitol aftcr
hearty breakfast The attendance Of spectators wss NOT
large The galleries were about twothrds Dled, the
proceedings u tbe ovideutly being much more al
tracve visitors thaa the dscoroue department
Of Senator's None OF the Diplomatic Corps were present
and even the reporters gallery occupied only by
the reporter Of the press asd two or three specials
The Senate Chamber, after ns thorough rsu0vs
i ton during this summer seemed almost like new hall
though there yet remains considerable amount a vorl
10 be done which the employees are busly engaged
before and after the hours Of the sessos and which vii
| probably require . week for completion.
The introduction BY Senator Morrill, Of Hon Nathan
Far sei the successor OF Mr. Pesseuden the only
incident OF interest during this Afternoon. ihe new sena
| tor "A tall muscular man, slightly bent, With hesvy
cast OF features grizzly wnkker. and facial expression
bearing striking mixture Of energy, decision and beue
violence.
The introduction OF the bill for the eou,pmcnt Of vi
new steam revenue cutters for service On the iakes
be followed up promptly by favorable action cesg th
Intention Of friends Of the measure 70 put the Nsrh
arm border as once In . complete state Of defencs
rn,s proposhon 10 evidently bot preliminary 10 more ..
esye arrangements for the protection Of tbe lake an
u Lawrence shores 10 be considered soon a. the more
pressing business relating 10 finance and ,hs army
disposed Of.
Kansas and Missouri the alert for sne bene0t
their militia and win spdesvcr 70 hurry through Cor
gress the proposition pay their state troops out N
national Treasury for defending their own homes Thor
Is little probability, however, Of an spproprhhos een
made for this object this session.
Tho session tomorrow. expected, win also be ore
adjournment doubtless immediately following ihe reee'
ton ct tho Presidents Message the Senate evidently az
string reservation Of its energies for 40 early and veor
attack on Wednesday the regular order OF bcsnes
PROSPECTS or rns CONSTITUTIONAL AxEspxsH
| ABoLIsHINo SLAVERY.
There is very good prospect that sufcicut pumb'
OF democratic members Of the House will yield the
opposition TO the passage Of the constitutional amen
mani ahnlishinr saxerv and ncrnlt a 10 naan hx a