Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-28
BY TELEGRAPH.
yHF DISPICVFS Or YHE ASSOCllYRD PRESS
PROM WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON, March 27-President johnson
has returned to the Senate the civil rights bin
with his objections. The veto message has not
up to this hour Q:SO P. NJ, been read.
Senator Foote was supposed to be in dying
condition at noon.
The sum of SIS. 500 IN fractional currency was
yesterday delivered by the Printing Bureau TO
the Treasury Department.
The Committee on Banks and Currency have
unanimously agreed to report the joint resolution
directing the withdrawal Of five cent fractional
currency upon which appears the head of private
individuals. An amendment thereto provides
that hereafter no head or device Of any kind shall
be put on the currency. except by the express d.
recton of the Secretary Of the Treasury.
The following statement shows the amount OF
vacant public lands in five Of the late insurree-
tionary States: Alabama, g. 732. s3S acres; Louis
lana. CPS. lO2 acres; Florida. l,9S2,7s6 acres
Mississippi, 4760,736 acres; Arkansas, 9,29S, Ol3
acres. There are no public lands in the States OF
North Carolina. South Carolina, Georgia, Ten
nessee or Kentucky.
Bids for %, 900 barrels Of -four were yesterday
opened by the Commissary of Subsistence OF
this military department. A much greater
number of barrels were called for. Bids ranged
from 5000 to 5000 for No -four. and from $9.75
to $l035 for No 3 All the No. l -four offered at
5000 and under, and all the No. 2 offered at
1854 and under wore taken.
The Ways and Means Committee are preparing
another tax bill, in which they propose to put
such articles as ought to go in the free list. The
only measure that is ready to be reported. is the
one putting a tax ofsix cents,b pound on cotton.
To-day. however. they expect TO settle some ofthe
other measures, and next week report the bill to
the HOuse.
The bill increasing the number of cadets to
West Point, will be reported in few days.
WASHINGTON, March 27.-The testimony taken
by the Reconstruction Committee in regard to
Virginia and the two Caroiinas was to-day report
ed by Mr. COnklin, and was ordered to be printed.
The delay in presenting the report was caused
by the absence of General Howard, before whom
all Of it was taken.
There were more than sixty witnesses examined
by General Howard in relation to the condition Of
affairs in Virginia, North Carolina and South
Carolina Some few of the witnesses were exam
ined by him in relation to the Southern States.
Among the most important of the witnesses ex-
amined in relation to the condition of affairs in
Virginia, were Judge Underwood. who has been
has mol yet been allowed to take his seat; Mr.. L.
Mcknight, elected to the House of Representa-
tives not yet in his seat; General Turner COM
handing the military post at Richmond, Major
General Terry, and Colonel Brown, assistant
commissioner of the Freedmens Bureau, station
ed at Richmond; half dozen of Virginia loyal
lists, including John Minor Bolts and others
General r. E. Lee, of the Confederate army and
General Case Of the same, five members of the
Virginia Legislature, viz: J. B. Baldwin, Speaker
of the House of Delegates, W. Joynes, chairman
of the Judiciary Committee. and R. L. Grattan
with Dale Carter and Z. I. Keen, members of the
Senate the latter formerly Colonel in the Con-
federate army, the Rev. DR.. McNudy, Rector of
Christs Church, Alexandria, Va, Rev. J. W.
Hunnicutt, of Fredericksburg. seven cOlored men,
including a minister, doctor and dentist, who
is also Baptist missionary, were examined. The
witness whose testimony will, perhaps, be most
eagerly sought for, is General Lee. He represents
that nothing like sentiment of hostility to the
United States Government exists in Virginia /;
that there are no combinations or conspiracies
having that end in view; that the people
though disappointed and saddened by the re-
suit of the war; accept that result sub
missively and are duly looking now to their
material interests. and that the surest and speed
lest modes to re-establshing the people to the
Government, and making them its cordial sup
porters. To extend to them equal political rights
with the people of other States; as to the negroes
he expresses his belief which be says he has al
ways entertained. that the State would be much
better without them, and he repudiates the idea
that crueltes were purpOsely inflicted on federal
prisoners of war. The testimony of the members
of the Virginia gentlemen who had come as
delegation TO President Johnson was equally i'm
portant and interesting. They concur in the opin-
ion to the complete absence of any feeling
looking to a revival of the contest with the Gov
eminent.
The question of coercion, they say, was settled
at the point of the sword, and the people are
content to abide by the decision and live faithful
citizens of the Republic. The represent the feel
ing of the people at large and of themselves, as
unalterably opposed to the idea of extending 9o-
liteal rights. The Legislature were engaged in
removing most if not all obnoxious discrimina-
lions between the whites and blacks.
New YORK March IA fire occurred in the
City Hall this forenoon; damage only about two
thousand dollars