The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-12-29

bring all parties responsible for the affair K
justice. A number Of arrests have alread,
| beon made. II
General Stoneman and family are at Will
lard's.
rHR LOxa BRIDGE OUT OF ORDER.
The drawer on the Virginia side of the Lonf
Bridge Is out Of order this morning. The
damage prevents the working of the drawer
and was caused by floating ice In the river
The use of the Georgetown channel through
the bridge will be delayed for day or two.
CHIEF JUSTICE CHASE OPPOSED TO THE OATH.
tits news that many of the secessionisti
here claim that Chief Justice Chase is opposed
to the test oath because he favors universal
amnesty as an exchange for universal suffrage
Fbrney's Letter.
coLoRED xAsoxs
Yesterday was ST. Johns day, and it wa
duly celebrated by the Masonic fraternity
Phoenix Lodge, No 8, and Simonds Encamp.
ment, No: II, of colored Masons, marched
through the streets in full regalia, and pre-
coded by band.
DARING ROBBERY.
The sleeping room IS the city postmaster,
5. j. Bowen, Esq, was entered by thieves or
Tuesday night, between the hours of one and
three O'Clock, who took from his clothing
which lay On the bed, hve hundred dollars
and from the room, two gold watches, without
awakening any one i'll the house.
SOUTHERN NAIL FACILITIES.
The Post-office Department to- day awarded
contracts for services on forty routes in Vir-
ginla and West Virginia. These routes, for
which offers have been made since the regular
blddings two months ago, will cover nearly
the whole Of these States, not then awarded,
with immediate postal facilities. Mail service
In North Carolina is in greatly increased de-
mand, and a number of officers are being
made To-day upwards of thirty routes were
let. All these services will 60 into opera ton
on New Years day
Contracts in (yo
Georgia and other States are also being fully
disposed of in the Appointment Office, with a
corresponding re-opening Of post-offices il
every Southern and Southwestern State The
number of such distribution may be set down at
two hundred per week. Yesterday Virginia,
Louisiana, Texas, Kentucky and Tennesse e
shared largely. -
FIVE CENT CURRENCY.
The new five cent currency will be issued
next week. About $50, 600 worth of defaced
and mutilated currency is destroyed per day
by burning, and go. 900 worth printed. Ar
rangements are nearly completed to make the
amount of the latter equal to the former.
FRANK BLAIR TO BE IN THE CABINET.
There is a rumor afioat that General Frank
Blair is to have the place of Secretary Stan
ton in the event of the withdrawal of the
latter from the Cabinet.
WHY MR.. DAVIS HAS NOT BEEN TRIED.
The President is preparing, or has prepared,
reply to the resolution of Congress asking
been brought to trial. The ground taken will
be found to embrace the legal difficulties here
tOfore announced as in the way of Il civil trial,
and the probabilities are that Congress will
pass q law to meet this and all similar emer-
gencies Hon. Henry J. Raymond, of New
York, for one, will strongly advocate such a
measure.
REPETITION OF AN OLD CONFIsCATIoN STORY.
Information has been received Of the confis-
cation, by the provOst-marshal at Lexington,
Va, of a considerable quantity Of valuable
hides belonging to the tannery OF that place,
and in part the property of the widow Of
Stonewall Jackson.
ADMIRAL sRMMEs.
The arrival here of the former Confederate
Captain Semmes, of the Alabama, who was ar
rested at Montgomery, Ala, on the 10th, is
hourly looked for. His trial by court-martial
for violating the laws of war in number of
instances, as ordered by Secretary Wells,
will probably take place her, if at all.
ASSUMPTION OF WAR DEBT.
It is reported that the Appropriation Com
mittee intends to report to the House bill pro-
viding for the assumption of the war debts of
the loyal States by the General Government.
REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONERS.
But two survivors of all those who partici-
pated in the war of the Revolution, so far as
known by the Commissioner of Pensions, re-
main, namely: William Hutchings, of Penob
scot, Han cock county, Maine, aged one hun
rendon, Orleans county, New York, aged nine
ty nine years. It is probable that one year more
will close the list of the surviving heroes of
that struggle which opened new era upon the
world But five widows of our Revolutionary
draw pensions from the Govern
ment, at yearly amount of 1898. rs. 1t is
that Congress will vote them an adj
lliti0nal pension.
FRENCH MINISTER.
The Cabinet meeting to-day was very brief
and comparatively unimportant. The quid
nuncs who started the story that the French
delegation was to be withdrawn from Wash
ington and based 1t upon the recent visit OF
siderably nOnplussed by the return OF the
Marquis de Montholon to this city few days
ago. As had telegraphed, his visit to New
York related solely to private affairs of his
own; the most friendly relations exist be-
tween him and the Government here, and
here is no prospect that they will be dis
.urbed -COrresp0aotence Ee,o Fork Ne,os.
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.
Thirteen propositions to amend the Consti-
.u4ion are before the House Committee on the
Judiciary. One Of these, appOrtioning repre-
,entatives according to the number of actual
voters, will be reported in the House next
month.
CONTESTED ELECTION CASES.
The various contested cases in Congress will
,e taken up soon after the re- assembling of that
body The case. of MIR. Harris, of Maryland,
will also come up for decision, and 1t Is thought
le will be allowed to retain his seat.
CARE FOR THE GRAVES OF THE 6OLDIkhs
Some months ago, General Meigs issued IN
rider to his assistants to make special reports
Il the locations and condition OF soldiers
cemeteries known to them, with recommends |
ions of the means necessary to provide for
he preservation of the remains inferred
herein from dissertation. Head boards have |
'een erected to their graves on the battle |
lefd of the Wilderness. Two cemeteries have
,een laid out, enclosed by paling fence: The
ties are well adapted for the resting place OF
hose who fell in the vicinity, having been Sc
ected where the scenes of carnage appeared |
o be the greatest. It was no unusual occur |
ence to observe the lines Of our men close to |
he abattis of the enemy, and In one case seve- |
al skeletons of our soldiers were found in |
heir trenches. Hundreds of graves on these
o distinguish them, and so covered with
oliage that the visitor will be unable to find |
he last resting place Of those who have fallen
Until the rains and SHOWS Of winter wash on !
he surface of the light covering OF earth and
xpOse their remains. $50
Quartermaster- General Meigs has caused |
o be removed TO the cemetery At Arlington |
he remains Of those who died on the camping |
rounds In the vicinity, and has taken mea-
ures TO collect the remains Of all others for