The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-05-01
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL

special DeSpdtcheS TO The EUentng Telegraph.
WASHINGTON, Nav l.
Mr.. Stewards Opinion COncernInw Re.
construction.
A casual conversation, to-day, between Secre-
tary Seward and a gentleman from Virginia,
may throw some light on the formers opinions
concerning reconstruction and Mexico. Mr..
Seward said he had lately received letter,
which had been forty days on the way, advising
him to act cautiously in the French and Mexi-
can imbroglio, because of the strong probability
of recommencement of hostilites between the
North and South. The visitor assured Mr..
Seward that so far as Virginia was concerned,
he need have no apprehensions; when the Sec
retary replied:-"Nor so far as any part of
the country is concerned. The country has
had enough to last it for long time. An
intelligent and virtuous woman who has
taken the first step in a life of shame, never
ceases TO deplore her misfortune; but an indo-
lent, ignorant woman will continue to take
many such downward steps as long as she lives.
Such a country as Mexico may be given over to
political revolution and war; but virtuous, en-
lightened, and exemplary country like the
United States will not be likely to repeat such
folly very often"
summer Residence for the Presidents
Family.
In view of the approaching hot and sicky
season in the capital, rooms are being fitted up
for the President and his family at the Cont
mental Hotel, Long Branch, New jersey. The
family will probably repair there early, leaving
the President to follow on the adjournment of
Congress.
The Public Debt.
The public debt statement, to be issued in a
day or two, will show decrease of about SIX
millions during the month of April.
The Case OF Isham Henderson,
A case which has occasioned considerable
comment in the West has, within a few days,
been brought officially to the notice of the Pre-
sident, by reason of misunderstanding among
both civil and military officers as to the purport
and effect OF the Peace Proclamation. The case
which brings the controversy here for Execu-
tive action is that of Isham Henderson, one of
| the prOprietors of the Louisville Journal who
has been arrested for alleged fraud as an army
contractor, and is now being tried before
military commission in Nashville, under the
act of July II, 1862, giving military commissions
| jurisdiction of trials tor frauds by army con-
tractors. 1t appears that Maior-General
Thomas, by telegram from Nashville, on the
23d instant, ordered Major General j. @. Davis,
at Louisville, to arrest Henderson, and send
him TO Nashville, and 'obey no writ of habeas
corpus in his case;" that the arrest was made;
| that writ of habeas corpus was issued by
| Judge Ballard, United States District Court,
directed to Lieutenant Colonel Coyle who had
Henderson in charge, who, under the order of
| General Davis, his superior, responded that he
could not obey the order, because he had positive
orders MOTTO do so; that thereupon Judge Ballard
ordered an attachment for General Thomas,
General Davis, and Colonel Coyle, for contempt of
court, returnable upon day fixed in May. In
the meantime, Henderson was taken to Nash
VILE and the matter was submitted to the Pre-
sident, who on Saturday last simply directed
that the trial before the Military Commission
proceed, inasmuch as the special authority for
the same is found in the law before cited of July
II, 1862. The President does not however, de-
eide that the writ of habeas corpus shall not
nor should not have been obeyed. II was mis-
take IN the officers to refuse TO make prompt and
respectful response to the writ, by setting forth
all the facts, and especially the alleea
ton that Henderson was in custody by virtue
of, and was to be tried under, the law before
named. have authority for saying that the
President regards the writ of habeas corpus as
fully restored all over the United States, exGent
in Texas. That in all cases where the wrIG As
legally issued 1t should be responded 10 as above
sugp ested But the restoration of the writ does
not prevent the trial by military commissions,
under the law OF Congress, of army contractors
for frauds Nor does the Peace Proclamation, of
itself, suspend or make void any trial that had
been actually commenced prior to the promul-
gation of the proclamation.