The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-06-20
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE,
Especial to the Louisiana Democrat
WASHINGTON, May 22nd, 1866.

WASHINGTON, May 22nd, 1856.
The present week seems to have I'M
tiated a new era in the history Of the Thir
ty-Ninth Congress. Since that famou
report of transcendent wisdom introduce,
by Mr.. Stevens aids-de-camp we had beef
laboring under the dnlness incident to thu
middle OF long session. Now we ar,
again awakened by stirring political ant
financial events. The. Senate is at las
prepared to discuss the great question O
the hour---the Congressional plan ofrecon
struction. Two important propositions
are actually ccntending for the precedence
in the North wing Of the Capitol-Mr
Sherman's grand stroke of craftsmanship
for the payment Of the National Debt, and
Messrs. Boutwell, and Fessendens astute
project for the disunon Of the States
The former bill violates every known prin.
ciple OF political economy, and the latter
scheIe-the amendments to the Constitu-
tion-provides for normal state of politi-
cal obstruction. The House is engaged in
discussing the sections of the new Internal
Revenue law. Notwithstanding the long
list OF exemptions, one hundred and nine.
ty-three pages of taxable articles still re-
main. There is naturally some excitement
among the merchants in reference TO the
imposts on their various articles of trade
The agents and telegraphers are busted in
dlspatching information to their principals
in New York who act on the market in
accordance with the decision Of Congress
on the tax. There are very slight changes
in the stamp duty on receipts, but the pre-
dominant feeling in this discussion seems
to be an anxiety to mulct the country gen.
orally for the support of the manufacturing
interests. Many members took advantage
OF the short recess last week to visit their
homes, and the Houses are still somewhat
denuded. The debates on reconstruction
which commence tomorrow, will attract a
full complement of Congressman, and a
large auditory of citizens. Senator Doolit-
tie is expected to make the great speech On |
3 the conservative side of the question. /
Besides searching analysis of the Com
m'ttees plan, he will make a powerful de-
tense of bis personal course in declining to
resign at the bidding Of his legislature
Fessenden will open the debate, and pre-
sent the radical view of the situation with
oil the force of which anything so weak is
capable.
THE BUREAUS FREEDMEN
are understood to work with remarkable
diligence under their new masters-tbe
Commissioners. Congress has called for
General Steadman's report, and in antici-
patton OF its character, the House has
passed resolution for the appointment Of
0 Committee composed of Senators and
Representatives to visit the plantations SO q
elegantly worked by the Agents, and ad >
wise as to the successful resuscitation off !,
Massachusetts slavery. The account OF ;,
Steadman and Fullerton in regard to the a
peculations of the Bureau officers, has elic. +.
tied an order from General Howard placinr n
his pet institution under stricter military y
supervision, and prohibiting the agents a
from being interested in the working of P
my Southern plantation. The new inves- a,
tlgation Committee may be suddenly an m
nulled, like the proposed Memphis Com cl
mission. If the dgnifed body which now W
holds its sessions in this ctyshould conde, F
'cend to favor the Freedmen with the pre- III
renee of dozen of their number, it is fear. tr
ID that the Ethiops will rise en- masse and s.,
against the degradation MIR. he
fairfield of Ohio--an ex-preacher-school. te
aaster--officer and now Congressman OBJ. err
ected strenuously to the use of the word Oh
household in the appropriation for the m.
WHITE House, on the ground that it was a to
oval term unfit for republican govern ne
aent The same gentleman could see no pa
bjection to depriving eleven States of the by
'nion OF their representative rights the st,
'rm and not the substance of liberty is vol
nat affilcts our oblique legislators. Of
THE TRIAL OF JEFFERSON DAVIS cor
expected to take place next month at ed.
e adjourned session Of the United States rog
lrcuit Court in the City of Richmond ven
haries o'Connor is preparing himself to ted
scharge the honorable duty Of defending AN
9 great chieitain. There will be no diff ller
lty on questions of evidence; the cause Fat
u almost Immediately turn on the points seer
Jaw involved in the case. The appeal can
the Supreme Court. whatever the decis- mos
IN the inferior Court may be, will be a
Ken IN the month of December. Wewill ner
On have all the constitutional points in men
late contest argued by some of the fre'
lest minds in the country. 1t is lamen- oeer
DE that tho Chief Justice and the AT. shir'
ney-General are not worthy of the pris- man
ef or his cause. The former ia cons;a. oteV
q good second-rate lawyer, in legal writ
c'es, and the latter is mere technical Zig
nentity u is very amusing to witness more
ase's sensitiveness for the dignity and TO
ependence of the judiciary, when few to st
nths ago, he was holding forth, like was
untebank, to crowds Of intelligent con- nesr'
bands. He has made bis gambling for lnen'
Presidency n fragrant fact not ,n,, :; have