Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-12-08
FROM WASHINGTON.

are beginning to circulate again of a
change in the State Department 1t is
now said that Hon. Reverdy johnson
will soon take the portfolio of Secretary
of State. At all events, it is pretty Ger.
tain something has gone wrong recently,
for it is generally whispered in diplo-
matte circles that Mr.. Seward will soon
retire.
The Republicans met in caucus to-day
for the purpose of arranging the stand
ing comittees Of the Senate. The COM
mittse who had charge of the matter were
not ready to make report, and they ad-
journed to meet tomorrow at ii clock.
It appears there is some difficulty in ar
ranging the craftsmanship of three or
four rather important committees, the
Special committee having decided to de-
pose Mr.. Doolittle from the Craftsmanship
of the Indian Committee, and Mr.. Dixon
from the Postoffice Committee and
Cowan from the important committees
which he holds. They are casting about
to get proper men to take these positions.
Up to this evening they had not deter.
mined on the programme to be carried
out The matter will be fully decided in
to morrow's caucus. The Senators to be
deposed have no idea of what is going on.
After the committee question is dis
posed of, move will be made in the
caucus to bring up the question of elect
ing a new Vice President in place of Mr.
Foster. 1t will be opposed by several
Republican Senators, who are disinclined
to making any change at present The
friends of Senator Wade, however, are
determined to push the matter vigorously
and secure his election at-once, so as to
guard against accident. 1t is doubtful
whether anything can be done now in the
matter. 1t is said to be the intention to
have an election before the 4th of March.
1t is reported that Secretary McCul-
loch, anticipating the action which Con-
gress is likely to take, has ordered Mr..
Van Dyke, Assistant Treasurer at New
York, to sell gradually few millions of
gold. 1t is pretty certain that Congress
will pass the bill which Gov. Boutwell,
submitted yesterday. There has already
accumulated nearly one hundred mil
lions in the Treasury.
Representative Bingham, of Ohio, en-
phatically denies the truth of the para
graph extensively published, that he was
preparing articles of impeachment
against the President on the ground Of
completely in the assassination of the late
President Lincoln. He says he never
had such an idea, and therefore never so
intimated.
Associate Justice Grier took his seat
yesterday. This makes a full bench of
the Supreme Court of the United States.
Under the rule only ten cases on the
docket can be called each day. The ten
called yesterday evening were of the
sixty pending since the commencement
of the rebellion relating to Southern liti-
cation. Five Of them were to day sub
mitted on printed argument, four were
continued, and one argued.
Senator Williams, of Oregon, will in.
troduce into the Senate to-day the fol-
lowing resolution
Resolred, That the Committee on the
Judiciary be instructed to make inquiry
as to the power of the President TO re-
store property confscated under the laws
of the United States TO its original own
ers; or, if such power exists, to what
extent it can rightfully be exercised under
existing laws; and also to make inquiry
into the power of the Secretary of the
Treasury to deliver to private claimants
therefor without judicial proceedings,
property or the proceeds of property,
seized by the United States as captured
or abandoned during or since the rebel
lion or otherwise.
Forney gave an entertainment tonight
to Mr.. Walters, proprietor of the London
Times. ALI the journalists in Washing
ton were in attendance.
Ristori visited the Departments to-day.
The President gave her pamphlet copy
of his message, accompanied with his
autopraph.