The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-12-24
FROM WASHINGTON.

| National Intelligcncer Of Monday will con-
tain an editorial in favor Of Indianapolis as
! the place to hold the Democratic National
/ Convention.
/ The Joint Committee on Reconstruction
has appointed three of its members, Repre-
sentative Jencks, and Senators Patterson and
| Williams, Sub Committee to enquire into
the mode of appointments to public service.
I, The Engineer Department has received in-
formation that the channel of the Southeast
pass of the Mississippi has been excavated
to the depth of eighteen feet, by dredging
machine. A German steamer which drew
eighteen feet has passed out without touch
ing bottom.
| The. Republican Washington special says:
Without any previous notice eighty mechanics
have just been discharged from the Navy
Yard here, and an order has been issued that
Will, next month, throw out of work half OF
the remaining thousand. This sudden aud
unexpected sweep will cause much distress.
Colonel Parker is still at the National
Hotel.
Princess Salm Salm is here endeavorlng to
secure the release of her husband, now i'm
prisoned in Mexico by JuareZ.
New YORK, Dec. %.
A letter from Schuyler Colfax, dated Dec.
ID, to Thos. Conway, of New Orleans, is
published, in which be says, ~ ou need not
fear that Congress will take any backward
steps III Reconstruction
The Herald Washington special says
Members Of the House of Representatives
state that it is notorious fact that all efforts
10 relieve the immediate necessity OF the h
nances Of the nation have, upon reaching the
Finance Committee ot the Senate, been sup
pressed, or, at least. promise to remain unno-
ticed until their utility will become greatly
lessened. The resolution against contracting
a measure decidedly popular among the
Western members has met this fate, and
. hence the severe remarks to which the course
Of procedure has given rise.
The Times Washington special says: The
comnittee to inquire into the cause of the
delay IN settling the additional bounty claims
p. find that the total number of CLAIMS filed, up
to Dec ], 1867. was 1000, and OF these
273 600 remain unsettled. The delay arises
in great part from the lack OF force employed
. and the committee report that all has been
: done which could be expected of a force sc
i reduced. 1t ltisvery evident from the report
that the work of retrenchment in some oi
the offices here has been pushed to point
where the public business Is suffering by it.
= and especially the interests of the early three
hundred thousand soldiers. The committee
!. recommend bill authorizing the employ
ment of an additional force, and to pay du
plicate checks upon evidence Of the loss o.
e the original.
I. The Herold's Washington special says
The case Of Smythson against Stanton, on {
charge of false Imprisonment, if it can b,
! brought to the test Of an argument, promise,
:. TO solve many Of the doubts which surround
the question as to the extent ,shlch an otiicia
i, Of the Government has the power 10 seize th,
4. persons and property of individuals withou
due process Of law. Hughes Denver Smyth
son was arrested and confined in Fort Laiay
s. cite. After some time he was released, an,
afterwards again arrested and tried by mil
, itary court and sentenced to five years i'm
" prisoument at Albany, New York. After {
brief confinement he was again set at libert.
e. BY pardon by the President
During these occurrences, it is said that
Government detective upon an allege,
h. authority from the Secretary Of War, turnet
the wife and children Of Smythson GU, 0
their house which was occupied by officer
e. of the Government. The case has thus ia
been postponed out Of courtesy to tn
!. opposite counsel, but the attorneys for til
plaintiff have now determined to press thei
motion for Oyer and inspection, an,
n. upon receiving an order of tn
court 10 the effect, vii proceed o
once either upon the merits qf the case, Q
st. in the event o. continued refusal withou
IS. giving sufficient legal PERSONS to proulee ~ h
- desired original letters, will move to set asid
: the justification set up 10y the defense, and 70
- an order for contempt Of court against Nj
Stanton,
It. The New York Tribune special says
Wall street is in a tremor over Senator Sher
man's bill, and communications by the seor
e. have been sent to members of Congress Pre-
testing against the clauses providing for tn
4 4 i -
70. bin in general. Form canvass ofthe House
however, il may be positively stated that
majority are in favor of that section Of til
'e. bill, and though the law says that they sha
not be subjec, to State or municipal taxation
the statutes nowhere define that they shall nc
'e. be liable to taxation BY Congress il deeme
advisable. There is a very storing dispostio
to subject them TO taxation now, and befor
ST. the final adjournment of the present sessio
takes place, bill affecting that purpose wi
undoubtedly be passed.
~ There is considerable discussion here o
8. the District Suffrage Bill. atriking cut th
a, word .'whiiea from the laws ofthe District
.s) Columbia and allowing negroes to set Q
iurles, which was passed some days ago, bt
which had not been sent to Congress by tn
ID. President within the ten days prescribed b
st. law. The adjournment having taken plae
before their expiration, the President an
his friends hold that the law is now virtual
ct dead, and that Congress will have to repas
the measure if they wish to put it on the sta
a. ute books. But this is mistake. as ACCORD
ing TO all preoedebts the tenth day will NJ
have expired until Tuesday, January Al
90 1868. The interval is only a recess of Coz
gress, and not an adjournment.
The Tribune's special says the only bill
sc signed by the President that were not r.
ported to Congress before adjournment Al
LID the bills changing the time of holding the a,
'et. nual meeting ofthe stockholders of the Unie
Pacific Railroad Company, and the b
changing the name of Samuel Chase Barne
ise' The other bills in the hands of the Presde
fail for lack OF his approval.
,th. Senator Howard, who has charge of Il
Stanton investigation, is busily engaged
preparing report on that subject. Ii is st
Use. ted that he has called on the Executive d
partment ofthe government for further Info
ed M ton, and that the report will probably
lse. ready as soon as Congress re-assembles.
!. Gen. Sheridan left here last evening
io. the west, and will not return till early in ia
se. uary, when be will preside at the board
=. officers which has been appointed for the !
Ind v;sal of the lava and tiana of thu rrn