Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-03-08
FROM WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, March 6.

mcnt. They were trleu, COnSlC'eu anu sehteuCeu u
be hung. The President committed their sentence
10 Imprisonment for life. They now apply for re-
lease, on the ground of nOn-jurisdiction The argu
ment of these cases were commenced by Mr.. Nc
Donald of Indiana. for the petitioners, who will be
followed by Judge Beach and &c eral Garfield, Oh
the same side. and they will be followed by Attor
ney.General Speed General Butler, and Mr. Stan
bury, for the Government Dudley d. Field will
close the argument for the petitioners. Each of the
counsel is allowed three hours for his argument.
THE RELEASE OF sEMMEs
Was the Presidents own act, and the result Of q
full examination of his case by the Executive is the
order issued this morning for his discharge from
further Imprisonment.
At no time it is said. was the arrest approved
either by the President or Northumberland il be-
ing the opinion of each that the prisoner was fully
protected by his parole. The letter of Semmes him.
self backed up by the legal opinion OF Judge
Hughes (his cOunsel), was so conclusive on this
point that the President was satisfied his further re-
tentOn was longer either just or advisable It's
the purpose of Semmes to return to Alabama imme-
diately.
JEFFERSON AND BERKELEY COUNTIES
In the proceedings of the Senate Tuesday, we
note the following action which would finally dis
pose of the question but for the fact that the State
has taken steps to have it carried before the Supreme
Court:
Mr.. Clark called up the joint resolution to give
the consent of Congress TO the annexation OF
the counties of Berkeley and Jefferson, belonging
10 Virginia, 10 the State of West Virginia.
Mr.. Riddle moved to amend by adding proviso
that the question be determined by vote OF the
people of the counties
Mr.. Clark said the people Of the counties had al
ready voted in favor Of the annexation.
Mr.. Riddle said that out of sixteen hundred votes
in one of the counties, only thirty voted. There
ii IN, flTa ~ nlNs
and out of these twelve hundred and fifty were in
favor of the proposition which he himself pre-
scented.
Mr. Clark said it did not appear that there was
any means adopted to prevent a full vote being
taken when the vote was taken. The men who
were then in the rebel army ought not to have u
vote now.
Mr.. Riddle claimed that many of those who went
were forced.
Mr. Clark said if that was so he was anxious to
put them into State from which they would be less
ant TO be forced into the rebel army hereafter Reb
els ought to be thankful enough to be allowed to
live under the Government, without pretending to
control it.
Mr.. Pomeroy asked Mr. Riddle if he would accept
as an amendment to his proviso that it be submitted
to the people without distinction of color. Laugh
ter.
Mr.. Riddle said he would not.
Mr.. Riddles proviso was not adopted.
The joint resolution was then passed-ayes, 81 !
nays, 3.
Those who voted in the negative were Messrs.
Davis, Guthrie, McDeugall, Riddle and Salisbury.
From the Correspondence of the New York Times. J
PROVOKING VETO.
The resolution in regard to Tennessee, reported by
the Committee of Fifteen seems to have been framed
expressly to provoke a Veto 1t embodies nearly
every doctrine which the President has expressly re-
pudiaed, and puts the question III precisely the
worst shape possible so far rs uniting the Union
Party is concerned. 1t is generally regarded rs a
renewed declaration of war against the President on
the part Ofthe Committee of Fifteen and the Radicals,
by whom that Committee is supported
uNMEAsURED sLANDERING OF TUE PRESIDENT.
Imav rs well add here that the Radicals have ap.
parenty entered upon systematic crusade of false
hood and defamation against the President with the
deliberate purpose of breaking down his private
character and reputation with the country / could
give you great variety of facts in support of this
statement | will content myself for the present
with one. A Radical member of Congress from
Western New V rk yesterday stated freely in con-
yersation that President Johnson said three mis-
tresses run the machine of Government, and that he
was generally so mnch under the influence of wills
KEY at night as to be unfit for business in the MORN
inT Another story, circulated through the H0nSe
today was that the President had pardOned the
pirate Semmes This was circulated very industri-
ouslv by some of the leading Radicals for the pur
is with the rebels ] have the best authority for
saving that it is utterly and totally false 1t is
pure fabrication for political effect. Not only has
there been no thought of pardOning him, but the
Cabinet to-day discussed the question as TO the pro-
per form of tribunal for trying him, and the AttOr
ney.General was called on for his opinion on that
point The still more prepoSterous rumOr was cir
cuated by the same parties that the President had
sent for the Senators and members from the rebel
States assuring them that he is now ready 10 main
tain their claim to seats This is totally false, with
out shadow of foundation in truth.
Correspondence of the Baltimore SUM-
THE COMMITTEE REPORT on TEENEssEE-ITs SUR
PRIsGNG CHARACTER AND CERTAINTY OF ITS BEING
MAINTAINED, sc.
Though prepared for some report from the COM
mittee on recOnstruc ton of q very radical charac
ter the public could hardly believe that the com
mittee would undertake to place Tennessee and all
the other sO-called "seceded States out of the
Union. The majority report will undoubtedly be
maintained The joint resolution, which requires
that Tennessee should acknowledge herself out of the
Union, and TO he suppliant, Tor readmlsSlon upon
the terms which Congltss imposes, VIII GalhmaAd,
no doubt two-thirdS vote in both houses OF Con-
gress Tennessee may assent to it and ratiy il. No
representation will Tennessee have till she ratiIcs
that decree. The President will have TO act on this
Joint resolution Just certainly as he had to act
upon the bill admitting Texas His veto will
amount to nothing. The committee. have counted
votes IN DOlU HOUSES uIuu llc ulctSulCs
Many Of the Republican members are very de-
sirous of bringing the session to early close after
admitting Tennessee, and perhaps Arkansas, and
passing the appropriation bills. Others say That
the country will not assent to an abandonment Of
the Capitol by Congress while the Union remains IN
its present agitated and critical situation.
p. S.-A highly important rumor has just reached
me from source entitled to consideration, to the
effect that the President has summoned TO this city
the Senators elect from all the rcOrganized Southern
States, lately in revolt. The report may be prema-
ture But several of these Senators are now here
and have been requested by the President to remain
That he may have occasion TO confer with all OF
them after the events of yesterday is not imprOba-
BILE,
The majority of the Committee on Reconstruction
have come To the conclusion in effect, that no one
of the eleven lately reb0lnus States shall be repre-
scented in this Congress. This is in conformity with
the assertions of the most trusted leaders of the Con-
gressional majority.
Mr.. aTANTON HOLDING ON-GENERAL GRANT FOR
THE PRESIDENCY.
1t is now known that Mr., Stanton's continuance
in the cabinet is exceedingly disastefu to tho Pres
dent, but Radical suggestion and his own incna-
ton forbid the idea of his resigning
1t was announced to-day, at the navy yard, that
employment would be given hereafter without re-
spect to party considerations.
1t is commonly stated among Republicans that
General Grant is TO be their candidate tor the Pres-
dency but it is understood that he Iesists the mpOr
tunity to oppose the Presidents policy
CARDINAL OF THE UNITED STATEs.-Some inter-
est is being felt at the North as to what Prelate
is to receive the rank of Cardinal in this county,
The New York correspondent of the Baltimore
Transcript says:
The news which arrived by the European steamer
yesterday, that the sacred consistory of Rome was
about to confer the rank of Cardinal on the Bishop
of the United States has naturally created intense
excitement among the Catholics of this city. There
are many speculatiOns to the name of the Preate
who will receive the Cardinals hat from the hands
of His Holiness But it is believed there. is little
room for conjecture, for it will probably be presen
ted to the Primate, Archbishop Spalding, of Balti-
more whose rank is next 10 that of the dignity of
- Prince of the Church. Whether the recipient of
this high ponticiaI favor will be required to proceed
to Rome to participate in the ceremonies Of the pres
entation of the title, has not yet been decided. 1t
is probable, however that the Pope will send a Nun
clio to this country to bear the welcome intelligence
to the Preiats who may be thus promoted to an
ecclesiastical grade only second to his own The
next steamer from England will perhaps bring fur
Their particulars of the matter.
THE TORNADO IN KNOXVILLE, EAST TENNESSEE
OF the recent tornado in Knoxville East Tennessee,
the local papers say The storm burst upon the city
like an avalanche, scattering houses, sheds, roofs
chimneys fences, &c, in all directions. There were
several dwelling houses moved from their founda