Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-02-27
Washington City Gossip.

seems to have been a m istake. When asked by |
the Marshall of the District if his name was ohm |
H Surratt, he promptly answered in the affirna-
tive He is in first 1ats health, and presents
most striking and picturesque appearance In MS
Zouaye uniform, which is new and foppish IN Its
embroidery and decorations. His Counsel, Ex-
Gov Thomas II. Ford and Col. Sol Hinckel, have
already made application for admission to his
CELL and it is understood that the authorities OF
the Convent in Maryland, in which Annie Surratt
has taken refuge since the death of her mother:
will make similar application on behalf of the
sister of the prisoner.
The Supreme Court has decided the case of
Thompson VS.. Bowie. action certain prom
issory notes of Hon Thomas F. Bowie, of Mary
land The defen was that the notes were given
for gaming consideration Among other evil
dence, the defendant being unable directly to
prove his allegation, the Court below permitted
proof that on the date of the notes the defendant
was very drunk, and when drunk was addicted
to gaming, and that the payee of the notes
the keeper of gambling house in Washington,
where the no tes were made at that time The
verdict was for defendant, and plaintiff appealed
to this Court, where it was held that such evil
dence should not have been admitted Justice
"SAS-1SS
of alleged fraud III obtaining the notes, and such
evidence was admissible in that view of the case.
The bill to prohibit the President from remov
ing any civil officer from office, including cabinet
ministers, without the consent of me Senate, and
better known the Civil Tenure Bill, was sent
to the President for signature.
Colonel Sprague, Assistant Commissioner of the
Freedmens' Bureau for Florida, reports that the
~f,u Saptb lima
and Georgia, and many are entering land under
the homestead bill The State is generally quiet
and prosperous.
1t has been discovered that the Indictment
which has been found against Surratt is very de-
fective. new one will be drawnup. Good law
yers say the one presented would have been
squashed ia open court and the prisoner discharg-
ed. Surratt is now coniped in the Washington
city Jail. He informed the warden that he in
tended not to give him any trouble. He asked
particularly about his sister speaking of her in
tender terms, and said he thought she was dead.
The warden informed him that he believed she
was in Maryland. The warden told him that it
was his duty to keep him safe, bot would grant
him all proper privileges. and asked him if there
was anything he wanted. Surratt replied that be
would like to have the privilege of smoking, and
this was granted him.
1t appears from a communication from the Sec
retary of the Treasury, that the Government pro
ceeds of the sales of captured and abandoned
cotton in rebel States, has been S29 100000 ] he
proceeds of the sales of miscellaneous property
raises the total to S34, 4,053, 900. Total dsburse-
ments, 50, ,3IO,7s7 The amount of profit to the
United States is nearly SIS ,OOO The number
of bales of cotton collected, as abandoned. was
|
Der of bales collected as captured, i5l ,S45 num-
| ber received by Simon Draper cotton agent at
New York, from other sources, 4542; the number
of bales stolen from agents, l44, and number
burned while in the hands of agents, 1,697
A communication from the Comptroller of the
/ Currency states that the National Parks scqui-
| esce in the decision of the Supreme Court that
the States tax their shares and three hundred
and eighteen of them have paids6, ,412106 under
State taxation. Including those unreported, the
| approximate total is $3.50 ,45l.
The President has approved the bill autllori-
zing the Secretary of the Navy to accept Leagu e
Island, in the Delaware river for naval purposes,
and to dispense with and dispose of the site of
the existing Navy Yard at Philadelphia.
| The President has also approved the bill au-
| thorizing the payment of prize money to the of
army who performed duty under Admiral Farra-
gut while the fleet was engaged in action in Mo-
bile Bay the 18th of August. 1854
A communication from the Postmaster General
laid before the House. shows that between the 2Sh
of July, 1866, and the 9th of December, the num-
Der of postmasters removed was 1854 j; of this
number ,2S3 were for political offences
In response to the Senate's request for informa-
tion concerning any violations of the Civil Rights
Bill, the President has but three cases to report
There are many more, undou btedly, but these
have not come to the Executive knowledge 1t is
remarkable. however, that the President does not
include in his statement any reports by military
commanders of crimes committed against the
freedmen These he has referred to the oblivion
| of the Attorney Generals Office, the President
protesting to be unable to say whether they con-
stitute violations of the Civil Rights Bill.
The House concurred in the amendment of the
Senate to the bill making the Congressional prin-
ter an officer of the Senate. and to be elected by
that body. He is to have charge of the Govern
ment printing Office and to Superintend the print
ing for all the Departments. Should the PrAsi-
dent sign the BILL Mr. Defrees will be restored to
the place from which he was removed by the
President last September.
Commissioner Bogy has succeeded in having
transferred to the charge of the Indian Depart
ment, 5000 or 1000 Navajo Indians, now held
prisoners by the military in New Mexico. These
Indians cost the government last year, for food
and transportation, and half million dollars;
whereas, by the transfer the Commissioner pro-
poses to take better care of them at not exceed
ing one half million dollars
The Senate, by large majority, voted against
the transfer of the Indian Bureau to the War
Uepartment. Gen Grant WAS ON the floor of the