The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-10-18
FROM WASHIGTON
An Order from Sec'y Wells.
IN LOUISIANA.
The Garriaon at Washington
Negro testimony in Mississippi.

New YoRK, Oct. 11-The order of
Secretary Wells prohibiting collections of
money for political purposes from work
men in navy yards is published. The
Secretary notices the attempt to justify
the practice by the claim that it has here
tofore prevailed under all parties, hut he
does not consider the excuse Of any vail
dity and therefore orders an immediate
stop be put to it. The navy yards are to
be kept free from political maneyering
and no persons will be allowed to resort
to them for the purpose of electionering
or to collect funds to advance the interests
of the candidates for Office. The Secre-
tary has also issued q circular, which we
have already noticed, directing that here
after all applications for the positions of
| master workmen must be made to the
bureau of yards and docks in Washing
ton.
| A specialize the Herald from Washing
ton, 10th, says: Some new complications
seem to have arisen in Louisiana affairs.
Provisional Gov. Wells has made some
| doubtful appointments in Gen. Canby's
opinion, and he therefore calls for the
political antecedents of the appointees,
before allowing them to enter upon the
duties of their Offices. Gen. Sheridan, is
understood to approve his proceedings.
The President is reported to have sent
for Secretary Stanton on hearing of the
trouble, and enquired with some warmth
whether interference of the military COM
manders was by order of the War Depart
ment. Mr.. Stanton, by the same author
ity disclaims any and all interference, and
left the onus on either Gen. Candy or
Gen. Sheridan. According to the report
of the affair President johnson is deter
mined to support Gov. Wells, and to toll
crate no interference with his legitimate
duties.
The garrison of Washington is at pres
ent composed of seven regiments of the
veteran reserve corps, the 7th, 9th, 10th,
18th, 14th, 18th, and 24th; the 9th and
10th of United States Infantry, and 195th
9th and 214th Pennsylvania regiments,
and the 18th Ohio volunteers, number
ing in the aggregate about 1000 men.
The 9th United States cavalry is on duty
at Gen. Grants headquarters. The duty
required of these troops is light, it being
no more than patrol of Long Bridge and
doing guard duty at the White House and
the various stock houses where surplus
government property is Kept. This prop
erty is fast being disposed of at auction
and private sale, the garrison will ere
long be reduced to merely an ornamental
body of troops.
Provisional Governor Sharkey, of Miss,
on the 25th uit., issued proclamation
in regard to the reception of testimony OF
colored witnesses. The Governor says
that in all civil or criminal cases in which
the rights of the negroes are involved,
4 their testimony may be received in courts
of the State, subject to the same rules as
govern the taking of the evidence of white
persons. This was issued after an agree
meut had been entered into with Col
Thomas, assistant commissioner of the
| Freedmen's Bureau in Mississippi, by
which that officer consented to transfer all
cases affecting negroes from the military
to the local civil tribunals.
i A special to the Herald from Wash
i ington says: Adjutant General Lorenzc
4 Thomas reports that the State of Missis-
sippi alone is credited with furnished up
wards of seventy mine. thousand negroes
and one thousand whites to command
them, They are represented to have been
/. raised during the year 1868 and 1864 fol
service during the war.
Mr.. Remeno, the Mexican Minister, ha:
intelligence that President Juarez was
still in Ell Paso as late as the 10Th of Sep
tember. IF forced to leave that place he
designed removing to Sonora, but in nc
event did he contemplate giving up tht
contest or quitting Mexican soil.