Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-04-13
WASHINGTON TOPICS AND GOSSIP:
. NEW POSTAGE STAMP.

- AS OOoCAA
A NEW POSTAGE sTAMP
Postmaster General Dennison is having
printed a postage-stamp of the denomina-
ton Of fifteen cents, which will soon be
ready for issue. A stamp of this price, it
was found, was greatly needed for the
payment of postage on quarter-ounce let
tiers for France. On the face of the stamp
is a inely-executed portrait Of Abraham
Lincoln.
SOLDIER REMOVED.
A fine young soldier, who had fought
gallantly through the war, was this morn
ing dismissed from the Quartermaster's
department for knocking down a fellow
clerk, who called him a liar for saying
that the Washington Chronicle was a more
loyal paper than the National HteuigsHeer.
The gentleman removed was Mr.. Spear,
brother OF Major Percy B. Spear, United
States commissary.
SOME REMARKS FROM COLFAX.
Speaker Colfax was ~serenaded tonight,
and during a few remarks said that the
complaints that Congress had adopted no
policy Of reconstruction We're met by the
fact that the President had been at work
eight months, while Congress had been at
work only four on the same great ques-
ton. He added that Congress had only
just received all of the official documents
on the subject, and that they were o
ready to proceed to define their policy.
TROUBLE IN MARYLAND.
That the rebels in Maryland need re-
constructing to a certain extent is evident
FROM tho paarr-rnw1a o. R.rlrTlla afNfaau
miles out from Washington. Last Sun
day the preacher of the NJ. I. Church,
Rev. Mr.. Hobbs, appointed by the North
ern Conference, was attacked by Rev. Mr..
Gilbert, designated by the Southern Con
ference TO fill that appointment. Those
present IN the church represent that after
the singing of the hymn and delivery Of
the opening prayer, Mr. Gilbert inter-
rupted the exercises by attempting to
eject from the building the regular
preacher, but was expelled himself.
Nothing daunted, he started in search of
some Southern friends, and was on the
point of making further demonstration,
when q company of United States Caval- |
~ anne TO the rescue, and prevented them
from carrying out their design.
THE PRESIDENT n TIE CIVIL RIGHTS
LAW
Several prominent gentlemen claim that
the effect of the passage of the Civil
Rights bin over the veto has been to mod
ify the Presidents sntagonism to Con-
gre5s, and they predict the speedy adop-
ton by Congress Of a plan for the restor-
alton of the rebel states, which will be
satisfactory to the loyal people, and viii
meet the Presidents approval. As to the
Civil Rights bill, they say the President
viii not fail to enforce it, now that it has
become a law. 1t Is asserted that the
President last evening said he had exer-
cised his constitutional preroGative in ge-
toing the bill, and Congress had exercised
its ~prerogative in passing it, and he should
feel bound by their action. Per contra:
Some Of the violent Copperheads declare
that the President will never enforce the
act, but will oppose and practically nullify
it. Perhaps the wish is fsther to the
thought 10 this case. Unless the Presi-
dent dictates to the courts he cannot null
lily the act, for the Federal Courts must
act under this law.
THE PRESIDENTS PROCLAMATION TX
planned BY HIMSELF.
The President, in q conversation with
General Howard respecting the Freed
mans Bureau, has said something Of i'm
portance by way Of Interpretation of his
recent peace proclamation. He says it
has only such scope with reference to the
States named therein as his former proc
lamation had with reference to them. He
regards it as only another step in the
policy Of reconstruction being pursued by
the Government. Il does not suspend the
operation Of military law in any of the
States, and the Freedman's Bureau will
continue 20 exercise its accustomed func-
tions throughout the South. Army Off
GERS viii remain on duty as its agents,
and justice viii continue 10 be admins
tered between the freedmen and the
whites by the existing semi-military
Courts, till the various States give the
former the right to be heard in the civil
Courts in the same manner that the latter
are. The President referred 10 the fact
that military power was exercised in Ten
nessee as well as elsewhere in the South,
and spoke particularly of General Fisk's
administration of the affairs Of the Bureau
in that State. He would remain there,
and the proclamation would not curtail
us powers nor the powers OF any Otlef
agent of the Bureau.
The rebels of Kentucky the President
regarded as Of worse spirit than the people
of any other State. Gen. Fisk had not
been too severe with them, and the freed
men of that State, as well as those Of
Maryland, would still be protected by the
military. The scope of the proclamation
with respect to military trials by courts
martial and commissions, does not seem
well understood even by officers high in
authority here and elsewhere. The de-
partment commanders of Georgia and
Alabama have telegraPhed here for infor-
nation on the subject, and it is understood
that the matter was brought before the
Cabinet to-day. What action was taken
is not known, but there are good reasons
for believing that the War Department
will soon issue a circular or general order