The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-04-23
FROM WASHINGTON.
COlOred Prisoners Sent South.
Interview between the French Minister
and Secretary Of State.
ssHIP OF NEW YORK.
The PROBABLE Adjournment of Congress.

WASHINGTON, April 21.
Yesterday evening 4S colored prisoners al
the -Jail-men, women, boys and girls, contra
bands and natives-were, with their own con-
sent, placed en- route for Louisiana, under the
charge of an officer of the Freedmen's Bu-
real. They were all charged with petty larce-
| MES.
f The District Attorney has entered nolle
| prOseqM in each case on condition that the
prisoners would go South, and the Court will
issue an order for therecoveredi stolen goods
to be returned to the owners by the property
clerks. About 125 other colored persons,
nearly all freedmen, left at the same time for
the South, where they are all promised good
wages.
Extensive preparations are beng made for
Fair in this city in aid of the National Sol
diers' and Sailors Orphan Home for friendless
orphans OF soldiers and sailors in every State
and territory. Mrs. Lieut.. General Grant is
President, and Mrs Major Gen. w. L. Sher-
manS Vice President All contributions to-
this benevolent object should be addressed to
the National Soldiers and Sailors Orphans
Home, Washington, d. c." AsA ~ y
The receipts from Internal Revenue for the
week ending to-day were $3,390,050.
Notwithstanding the large number of speech
es heretofore read from manuscript or printed
slips in the House Of Representatives, as Pc
culIar to Saturdays, there are still quite a mum
Der OF members, who have had their speeches
prepared for months, who are anxiously and
patiently waiting for an opportunity to speak
to the country, and especially to their constit-
ents.
I The Assistant Commissioner of the Freed
mems Bureau in Florida has transmitted 4 re-
port to the Bureau. He states that he has la
bored to prevent any collision, as far as possi-
Die, between the military and civil authorities
OF the State. He called the attention of Gov.
Walker to the provisions of section 12, of an
act entitled IAN act prescribing additional pun
lshments for commission of offences against
the State, and for other purposes" which pro-
vldes tor disarming freedmen of their private
arms He urged upon the Governor that it
was unconstitutional, both as regards the Unit
ed States and the State Constitution, and de-
sired tohaye the decision OF competent author
ity in the case.
The Governor hesitated until Gen. Foster
informed him that the disarmiDg of the ne
groes must cease, either through civil Or mill
tary action. ttfAI 1L.l1 Il ~a14ljE 4
The opinion of the Attorney General has
been called, who decided that the provisions
OF the section were unconstitutional
Gen. Davis 'Tilson, Assistant Commissioner
OF the Freedmen Bureau in Georgia, has sent
to each agents OF the bureau list of ques-
Stions which they are directed to answer. in
cluding the following: Whether the civil aul-
thorities endeavOr to arrest and punish those
who wrong or abuse the freedmen, and if SO
whether they generally succeed in Furnishing
the guilty? Whether the services of an agent
Of the Freedmen's Bureau Is necessary to Sc
cure justice to tho ffocd people, and if the bu.
reau was removed whether tho civil autlruIi-=
ties would protect their rights? Also, whether
in their opinion the tone and temper of the
whites are improving towards the freed peo-
pie? And if they think the time is approach
ing when the control of the freed people may
be safely entrusted to them?
ussl..'a. WASHINGTON, April %.
The French Minister had an interview
with the Secretary of State, yesterday. 1t is
French Government to the American princi-
pie of non-intervention as explained by the
Secretary of State. The Emperor kindly and
cordially replies to tn, United States and en-
cages to withdraw his troops from Mexico i'm
three attachments, one next November and
the others in May and November following.
The full and final correspondence between
the Governments which led to this important
result, will, it is expected, be sent to the House
this week. EFG 4 o.fgErEs
The Senate Committee on Commerce to
which the nomination of Smythe, as Collector
of New York was referred, has not vet come
to definite conclusion on the subject
1t is expected the Committee on Ways and
Means will early this week report some of
their proposed amendments to the Internal
Revenue bill, and especially those relative to
incomes and exceptions. They have not yet
considered the branches with regard to to-
bacco, distilled spirits and the administration
of the law.
1t is the opinion of prominent Congress-
men that the present session OF Congress will
be closed early in July. Apart from the sub
ject of reconstruction all other business can
be closed in several weeks. ~ s-IuY5 4. .r3
The Secretary of State in February last,
writing to the late Daniel Dickinson in re-
lation to the case of the steamer Meteor
which was seized and prevented from being
used as Chilian privateer against Spain said,
"the President is determined that the neutral
ity laws of the United States shall be admin
istered in good faith and with entire fairness"
The principle thus announced will, there is
no doubt, be as strictly applied in preserva-
tlOn of peace between Great Britain and the
United States, should the Fenians seriously
endanger it. lu5