The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-01-29
FROM WASHINGTON.
President on Nergo-S
LATEST FENIAN NEWS.
Gen. Sherman in Senate Chamber

Constitution. One great amendmen
had already been made, by which sla
very had been abolished forever within
the limits of the United States, and {
national guarantee thus given that tha
institution should never exist in tn,
land. Propositions to amendIthe consti
tion were becoming as numerous aspire
ambles and resolutions at town meet
ings called to consider most ordinary
questions connected with the administra
ton of local affairs. ALI this, III hi
opinion, had tendency to diminish the
dignity and prestige attached to the
constitution Of his country, and II
lessen the respect and confidence of the
people in their great charter of freedom
| If however, amendments are to be
made to the constitution, changing the
basis of representation and taxation, and
he did not deem them at all necessary al
the present time, he knew of none better
than simple proposition embraced in q
few lines making in each State the mum
Der OF qualified voters thu basis OF rep
resentation and the value OF property the
basis of direct taxation, such a PROPOSE
tiop could be embraced in the
following terms; Representation shall
be apportionei among the several
States which ma be included within
this Union, according to the number OF
| qualified voters in each State Direct
taxes shall be apportioned among the
several States which may be included
within this Union according to the val.
ne of all taxable property in each
State" An amendment of this kind
would in his opinion, place the basis
| of representation and direct taxation
upon correct principles The qualified
voters were, for the most part, men
| who were subject to draft and enlist
ment when necessary to repel invasion
suppress rebellion and to quell do
mestic violence and insurreCtion
They risked their lives, shed their blood
and spent their all to uphold the gov
ernment and give protection and securi
ty, and value to property 1t seemed
but just that property should be com
pensated for benefits thus conferred by
iefraying the expenses incurred in its
protection and enjoyment Such an
amendment the President also suggested
would remove from Congress all issues
| to the political eqaulty of races 1t
|
tications of their own voters with regard
to color, and thus the number Of repre-.
sentatives which they would be entitled
in Congress would depend upon the mum.
Der on which they conferred the right of
suffrage.
The President III this connection ex,
pressed the opinion that the agitation
of the negro franchise question III the
District OF Columbia al this time was the
mere entering wedge to the agitation of
the question throughout the States, and
was lll-timed, uncalled for, and calCu-
lated to do great harm. He believed
that it would engender enmity and
strife between them which would result
in great injury to both, and the certain
determination OF the negro population.
Precedence, he thought, should he given
to more urgent matters Of legislation
upon which vas essential for the restor.
alton Of the Union and the peace of the
country and the prosperity of the peO'
pie.
NEW YORK, Jan. 27.-The Tribune 5
Washington special says Admiral Far.
ragnt has received a report from the
commander of the West India squadron,
stating that six large French transport
vessels had put in at Havana on their
way to Vera Cruz. The transports were
empty and ii is believed that they were
intended TO carry back troops from Mex
leo to France
The Commercials Washington special
SAYS The Reconstruction committee
meet to-day, but will not take further
action until the constitutional amend
ment, now before the House, has been
disposed Of
The Times Washington special says
Major General Sherman entered the Sen.
ate Chamber in company with his
brother, Senator Sherman, this forenoon
while the Senate was in session Imme-
diately q general buzz and hum Of sup
pressed voices broke forth among the
numerous auditors in the galleries, and
there was q rush to get faYorable posi-
tiops for q good view of the military
hero. The senators one by one approach
ed the General, and shook him warmly
by the hand For time he was sur
rounded by admiring friends, and the
business Of the Senate was almost sus
pended during his reception. Genera
Sherman came here on official business
and il is said he will remain for the en-
suing next week, if Generals Sheridan
Meade and Thomas arrive, all of whom
are ordered here to form military con
vention of Affairs in their several de
partments
The records OF tte Treasury Depart
nent show that from March, 1868, up t
August, 1865, abandoned and captured
cotton, valued at Ss,744;00Q, was seize'
By the Government in the valley of tn
Mississippi. Of this amount $500, ,00
have been paid into the department tn
remainder having been transferred to til
original owners Of cotton which, TO tha
amount, had been Improperly seized,
For the fiscal year ending June Seth
1855, the mint and branch mints of th
United States coined S32,si9 24S ca i
gold. silver aud copper.
: The Tribune's special says: lntell
sence has reached the Commissioners Q
customs of the transfer Of a'large shar
ofsmuggling operations on the st. Law
) renee to different points on the boundar
line between the British provinces an
Dacotah. The commissioner has take
the necessary precautions for the SUI
preston IF the illegal traffic ii that d
!. 1ect,on
The case Of hrs. Cobb's pa1don-r1oke,
age against Detective Baker was contir
ued to-day, with considerable argumen
as TO the admissibility of testimony rels