New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-05-10
WASHINGTON.
INQUIRIES OF THE Pl.lsIDENT CONCERNING TIE RE-
CONSTRUCTION ACT--sENATOR DOoLrTTLE TO BIS a
DIPLOMATIC AGENT TO RUSSIA.
"A

DIPLOMATIC AGENT TO RUSSIA.
BY TEIKeRAPH 10 the
WASHINGTON, Thursday, May o. 1867.
Suggestions and petitions in great number have
been received by the Administration recently from
citizens within the Southern military districts rela
tive to the proper construction of the Reconstruction
acts. In nearly all the communications there is TO
be found complaint of the too liberal Interpretation
nut upon the law by some of the commanders
which, it is claimed is the very reverse of the mode
of constituting the law that should be adopted. The
rule of construction it is urged should be in favor
of the largest liberty to the citizen, and the least
possible interference with the civil and social affairs
of the community under the law; that
a right construction of these reconstruction laws
does not give the military commander the power
to depOse civil officers at will and he has no author
ity to appoint such officers; that under the recent
law when it is shown by the acts OF the clvh officers
that they are not executing, refuse to execute the
laws, the military commander may, In some III
stances turn the controversy or subject to be dealt
with over TO military commissioner; that the COM
| mander should confne himself strictly within the
letter of the law and permit the so-called PRO
yisonal Governments to go dsposing OF all mat
tiers heretofore belonging to the functions OF state
Governments except in far as it is manifest that
these civil authorities absolutely conflict with or OBJ
struct The operation of the military reconstruction
laws Such it il claimed, is the spirit Of the recon-
structiOn act and the obvious intent OF its trainers
These petitions have not been acted upon, but are
held under Amusement by the President until the
Attorney General shall have submitted his opinion
on the Acknowledgement clause 1t is possible that
upon full consideration Of the whole subject, the
President may give some instructions to the CON-
manders relative to their interference with the do
nestle and civil concerns of the people within their
H.. 4l,,.,
several districts in matters that do not directly con-
fict with the operation of the laws OF Congress But
il is understood that Mr.. Johnson is not inclined 10
interpose in anywise to prevent the military COM
manders from exercising their own Judgment unless
it shall become absolutely necessary that the Execu
tive intervene to prevent the working OF o great
wrong
A dispatch from Texas received by the President
tonight says hat by reason of Gen. Griffins order
recurring exclusion OF jurors who cannot take the
test oath the courts are closed The question is
asked is this ruling approved by the
PRESIDENT ~ No answer will be. given until
the Attorney Generals opinion shall be completed.
II is not generally known that the last Congress
lust before adjournment passed bill granting TO the
heirs of Union soldiers who died prisoners OF war,
communication for rations at the rate of twenty-five
cents per day for the time the soldier so held by
the Rebels. The following heirs are entitled, ana
in the order named. First, widow, If unmarried at
date Of passage of Act March 1851 Second, child
rem. Third parents; TO both jointly IL they
are living. if either is dead, TO the sur
yivor Fourth, brothers and sisters oil the
deceased soldier equally. Col. Lee, the New-York
State Agent in this city, is prepared to furnish blanks
and present to the proper Department for ADJUST
ment gratuitously, any claim of heirs OF deceased
New-York soldiers arising under that law.
The Secretary of the Interior has complied with
the Senate resolution of March %, requiring infor-
nation in relation 10 the Indian tribes in the United
States The report of the Secretary is very full and
interesting, aud embraces the approximate number
belonging to each tribe of Indians the iGSSahty anu
extent of the reservations; statement of the treaty
obligations the amounts Of money required to be APP
| proprated annually under such treaties etc. Inc
report shows the number of Indians belonging to the
severalt tribes be SAB The ranges
of country occupied by the Sioux, Crows, Backfeet,
Chippewas Shoshones, Bannocks and other tribes, or
the country described i'll the treaties in force or by
agreement with them, embraces portions OF Dakota,
| Montana, Utah, Colorado Idaho, Nevada, and Min
nesota The aggregate OF future appropriations that
will be required during limited number OF years to
pay limited annuties incidentally, cannot fall much
short of $l5,OOO,OOO.
Several applications have been made to the Pen
legged Act granting pensions to soldiers of the War
of 1872 with Great Britain, said to have been ap-
| proved December o. 1861 The Commissioner of
Pensions desires that general publicity should be
given TO his statement that Act of that date
tenor specified has been passed by Congress. There
is no law granting pensions to soldiers of the War of
1872 excepting to such as were disabled in the
vice, as provided for more than so years since.
IL has been the practice with certain banks to take
instruments in the form of a receipt instead OF
promssory notes A. b. applies for loan OF SlO,ooo,
which he procures upon lodging United States
bonds &c. as collateral security Instead OF giving
the bank his promissory note he gives an ihstru-
ment in substance as follows:
Received Of - Bank, $4,000 advance on $1,000
United states f~'hds'
To tbis he affiXes twO-cent stamp only. The CON-
ssioner of Internal Revenue has decided that such
,r instrument is evidence of amount OF money to
be paid and as such, is liable to stamp tax at the
same rate as promissory note, and the Controller OF
the Currency has directed all bank examiners not to
recognize such Instruments with two-cent stamp
only as affixed as valid and legal
sThe expenses attending Secretary Stewards Wal
russian treaty are not yet at an end. Seven millions
two hundred and fifty thousand dollars in gold wall
not begin to cover all expenses Of the job conn
Dental mission has been fixed up by Mr.. Seward and
Mr. johnson to the Car of Russia. Senator Doolit-
tie to be the bearer of dispatches on said mission
which concerns our recent purchase of the Russian
American Territory around the North Pole Mr. Doc
little will leave here immediately His expenses VIII
be paid from the contingent fund OF the state De
partment. Senator Doolitte left here tonight tor
New York. whence he sails on Saturday for Europe.
The session of the Judiciary Committee to-day was
of short duration No testimony was taken The
documents mentioned in yesterdays TRIBUNE were
presented TO the Committee and filed for examina-
ton The session WINS occupied in LEGAL arguments