The Van Buren press., 1867-01-11
From Washington
WASHINGTON. Dec. 90.


at Fort Phil Kearnev Colonel III. B.
Darlington the commandant OF the fort,
tclegraphs the Indians, numbering 5000,
attacked the soldiers near the fort killing
tie entire party, and horribly mutilating
their bodies Among the killed are
Colonel Fclterman, Captain Brown and
Lieutenant Drummond The ninety one
men killed, were mostly new recruits.
General Francis f. Blair, Jr., succeeds
General Curtis, as Pacific Railroad Com
missioner.
The star this evening says Surratt will
arrive about the 10th Of January. His
trial will take place at the FEBRUARY term
Of the Criminal Court
On the first day Of the session the
President will send in the list of leading
rebels who have been pardoned since the
first of last January, and Of those who
recommended their pardon. The appIi-
cations in many instances will be found
to he endorsed by those earnestly op
posed to the Presidents,
WAsHIsGroS, Dec 81.
Gen, Butler remarked to-day, THAT he
did not see how impeachmenttcould
longer be DELAYED the action of the Su
preme Court having rendered the neces
siiy for it greater tLan ever.
The SouthciA men here, do not feel
much encouraged here to-day by the
declaration Of Forncy's Chronicle, that
the ratification of the amendment will
mot be a iinqlity in the basis Of restora-
/ ton. .
The Supreme Court today made pub
lie the full Official rcyisc cd decision in the
Indiana conspiracy, or Bowles and Milli-
Gan eases. II shows that the points pre-
|yiously made public have been substan-
/ TALLY correctly stated. The Courts were
unanimous in agreeing chat the trial of
civilians by military commissions at
places where the Civil Courts are in scs-
sion, is illegal and unconstitutional. \
minority of the Court, however, compos-
ed OF Chief Justice Chase, Swayne, Miller
anl Wayne delivered their views on the
duestiOnas 90 whether Congress may
/ not lneaiize military commissions for the
trial Of civilians in times Of great public
danger, which they answer alllrmatively,
and in this respect they conclude thoir
opinions rs follows:
We think that the power Of Congress
in such times and IN such localities to
authorize trial for crimes against the Sc
curity and safety Of the national forces,
may be derived from is Constitutional
authority 70 raise a1l support armies
and declare war, if not from the COnsti-
tutiOnal authority to provide for gov
crning the national forces We have no
apprehension that this power under our
American system OF government in
which all official authority is derived
from the people and exercised under di-
rect responsibility to the people, is more
likely to be abused than the power TO
regulate commerce or the power to Dor
row money; and We are unwilling to give
our assent, by silence, to expressions OF
opinion which come to us calculated
though not intended, to cripple the Con
stitutional powers of the government
and to augment The public dangers in
time of invasion and rebelion'
The Committee from the Arkansas
Legislature arrived here tonight, for the
purpose conferring with the President
and leading Congressman on the national
situation. ...
.... WASHINGTON, Dec. 81.
The House Committee Of Ways and
Means will recommend the modification
of the income tax, increasing the amount
OF exemption from the income tax to 81 ;,
/ 600 n year The Committee find it i'm
possible to resist the pressure for q re
/ duction Of taxes The manufacturers
are here in force. and will probably sue.
ceed in procuring slight reduction OF
some articles. Congressman are divided
in expressions and opinions upon tho
1 subject Of amendments.
as a sane qao non to the admission O
/ the Southern States, a large number OF
Republicans assert their willingness tC
make the amendment basis Of admission
/ to all truly loyal members, but these EN-
/ brace chiefly the Conservative wing o.
/ the party. The more extreme member,
are opposed to committing themselvc,
4 upon the question is not improbable
that caucus will be held to consider the
1 ipropriety Of offering an amendment to
the South rs tinality.
/ WASHINGTON, Jan. |, 1867.
Adyiccs from Harrisburg leave little
doubt that ThaddcuS Stevens will be
elected United States Senator. 1t is also
believed that Roscoe Conkling will sue
ceed Ira Harris, Of New York, rs United
States Senator r..
Col. Darlington, who was in command
ofthe post at Fort Phil. Kearney at the
recent massacre of nearly hundred
soldiers, has been relieved, and will prob
abl Y be ordered under arrest on charges
Of carelcssness in the performance Of his
! duty 1t seems that the detachment was
cut Off from all chances OF retreat TO the
fort and ovcrpowercd. It's claimed that
/ Col Darlington could have prevented
this.
Mr.. Ashley, Chairman Of the House