The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-03-17
From Washington.

oAS NJ" Aoi1dtl E'Issu GtsClOuS W ti1Glr
former owners, even in those cases
where the owners have received at his
hands full pardon for past offences.
His reason for this is probably to be
found in the fact that it would hardly
be wise to restore, here and there, q
plantation on those islands, while all
the others were held at the same time
by the negroes. Such result could
not fail to breed disturbances, and
perhaps very serious consequences.
| Meanwhile the President has not in
the slightest changed his position on
this subject from what was expressed
In his veto message. Those lands
cannot be rightfully s'taken from
their former owners without legal pro-
ceedings being first had"
One OF the members of the Recon-
structlon Committee has proposition
which he intends to submit on his
own account for the admission of
Tennessee, when the subject is again
brought before the House. The pre-
else nature Of this substitute l have
not learned, but report says that it is
pretty certain to be we'll received, and
nearly as certain to be agreed upon.
The President found immense relief
yesterday In being almost totally
exempt from borers, otherwise known
as lnquisitive delegations, who have
nothing particular to do, and there
fore impose themselves on the good
nature of the President. During the
present week, however, another rush
may be looked for, as two or three
delegations yet remain to crafty their
curiosity and give vent to their patri-
otism
Another meeting of the Ways and
Means Committee was held yesterday
on the subject of internal revenue. The
Committee are dividedupon the oues-
ton as to what amount of reduction
shall be fixed upon in the grand total of
the receipts, a portion of the members
suggesting a whiting down of S5O,-
600, 200, and others razee of S75,-
100000. AS it is important there
should be unanimity on this psint,
the taxable articles on which reduc-
tions are contemplated will not be
taken up in detail until the unanimitv
IS secured.
Naturally enough, the Fenian ex-
cltement has given rise to rumors of q
forthcoming proclamation, but it is
certain that none will be issued until
the cause is ascertained to exist for
the same. The British Minister, at
his last interview with MI Seward,
was assured that the Government
would promptly punish any infrac-
tions of the neutrality laws by the
Fenians, but thus far he was not
aware that any had been made The
Minister replied that he felt sure his
Government would ask no more than
this, though he took occasion at the
same time (privetely) to express his
regret at the mischief and unpleasant
feeling which the acts of the Brother
hood were calculated to produce.
Mr.. Seward replied that he saw all
this clearly; that the proceedings of
the leaders were certainly of a mis-
chievous, if not criminal nature, but
as yet they had known enough to
keep within the limits of the law. He
would be happy at all times to give
her Majesty's representative all the
information in his possession with
reference to the so-called uprising,
and promised that the strong arm of
the Government should not be found
wanting should the occasion for its
interference arise.
Thus far the British Government
has made no remonstrance whatever
to that of the United States upon the
above subject, the interviews between
Mr.. Seward and Sir Frederick having
been purely of private and CONVEX
sational character
. The vote in both the Senate and
House, on Friday, is the most posi-
tive proof that could be offered that
extreme counsels are less and less in
fuential in Congress- The President,
am told, is greatly encouraged by
the results of Fridays work, and he
now feels more satisfied than ever
that his policy will succeed.
Gen. Garfield has been instructed
by the Ways and Means Committee
to report in part upon the changes in
the revenue which have already been
agreed upon. The tax on incomes
has been fixed at five per cent. on all
over $1,000. The taxes in Schedule
A, which comprises great variety Of
articles, such as watches, carriages,
&C., have all been thrown off, except
upon billiard tables and carriages
worth over $500 Cotton is taxed
five cents per pound, payable-not
by the planter-but monthly by the
manufacturer who receives it, or by
the exporter at the time Of shipment.