Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-12-28
From Washington.

A few days ago the House passed .
resolution calling for any Information
in the possession OF the Executive De- ,
partment with reference to the so-called .
decree by Macmillan, the French agent
in Mexico, under date Of Sept. last, es- !
tabliug slavery or peonage in that re-
public. 1t appears from the reply TO
this resolution that on the 10th of Sept,
Mr.. Corwin, Charge d'Ahaires, sent a
copy Of this decree 10 Secretary Seward,
who requested the opinion Of Attorney
General Speed upon that paper, The
latter gave an elaborate response, max
ing the broad declaration In. the first
regulation that all men Of color are free
bv the act alone OF having trod on Mex
lean territory, 1t is manifest that In
subsequent regulations a grinding and
odious form og slavery Is sought to be
established, and he concludes as follows;
| have no hesitation in saying these
regulations constitute law which de-
prives working men OF rights which we
in this country regard, and which in
every well organized community should
be regarded as inestimable and indie
structible, and certainly makes them
slaves. The history Of this country and
particularly the history Of the troubles
from which we are just emerging shows
that no society can be organized per-
manently and remain at peace within
its own borders, and with an outside
world where these great and important
rights are denied TO any considerable
class of men.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20
The Senate has confirmed the nomlna-
ton Of Woodbury. Davis as Postmaster
at Portland, Ne.
William L. Black, one OF the Panama
steamship pirates who was sentenced tc
be hung, and whose sentence was com
muted by Gen. Mcdowell to ten years
Imprisonment, has been pardoned by
the President.
The funeral services Of Hon. Thomas
Corwin were performed in presence Of
large number of friends OF the deceased
The corpse was conveyed to the Rail
road depot, thence to be transported t.
Ohio.
The War Department has just ISSUED
orders for mastering out Of service vol
unteers. white and colored-infantry
cavalry and artillery-in the variou
military departments, their services be
ing no longer required.
On the 18th Of December notice wa
ordered to reduce the aggregate force
white troops in the Departments c
Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi t
1000 men, regulars excluded.
WASHINGTON, Dec. p.
In consequence OF some remarks
Gen. Grants late report, Gen. Howard
commissioner of freedmen's affairs, t
dav issued orders calling the attentio
. of the assistant commissioner to ths
report, and saying that the most tho
ough inspection will at once be mad
and the evils complained Of cnrrecte'
No order from the War Departmel
r makes the bureau independent OF Il
Y military establishment, and any age
r or officer who presumes to act contral
to such Instructions will be forthwi
d removed or reported to the command
If the DEPARTMENT for trial by cou1
: martial.
It It is stated that Gen. Van Volkenbu
of New York has been appointed Mini
ter to Japan.
In the United States Supreme Cot
today, pending the case Of A. d. Ii
II land of Arkansas, asking to be allow
to practice as counsellor, Hon. Rever
Johnson delivered an argument agall
the constitutionality Of the Congr
sional test oath.
> A paymaster Of the U. 5. army w
~ into bank in this city today, W
ne $4,000, which he laid on the coun
e and turned about for the purpose
u writing check. His clerk entered
us the same time, and likewise placed
the counter, and then engaged in C.
versation with friend. While the p
master and clerk were thus engag
cd some party in the crowd stole the 8
ng 900 package, with which he made
ere escape unnoticed.