The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-12-24
FROM WASHINGTON.
au;th.ou w.. MISUNDERSTANDING
Hill - Reparatien - Congregational
ltems.

Hill - Reparatien - Congregational
Items.
New YORK, December 23.-The Her
AIDS special says The case of Smith
son against Stanton on charge of false
if it can be brought to
the test of an. argument, promises to
solve many of the doubts which sur
round the question as to the extent to
which an official of the Government has
the power to seize the persons and pro-
pe-ty of individuals without due pro- |
cess of law.
MessIs. Hughes, Denver & Peck, Of
this city, having the case III hand In
March last, made q motion in the Dis
trict Court to require the defendant to
furnish the originals of certain letters,
papers aud proceedings of the court mar
tial. Mr.. Stanton, Notwithstanding the
readiness Of his attorney to comply, has
thus far obstinately refused to allow the
originals to be seen, though copies are
freely offered the attorneys for the plain
tiff, but however they are not willing to
receive these, as they wish 10
discover the authenticity, particu-
larly of the reasonable letters al
legged to have been written I'M
der the assumed name of Coolies by
Smithtield. These letters as they appear
in the plea of defendant, contain infOr-
nation respecting the numbers and
movements of the garrison of Washing
ton in the first year of the rebellion.
Upou this ground Smithson was arrest.
ed and confined in Fort Lafayette. After
some time he was released, aud after
wards again arrested, tried by military
court and sentenced to five years I'M
prisonment at Albany. After a brief
confinement, he was again set at liberty
by a pardon by the President. During
these occurrences, it is said that Gov
eminent detective, upon an alleged
authority from the Secretary of War,
tarned the wife and children of Smith
son out of their house, which was occu-
pied by officers of the Government.
The case has thus far been postponed
out of courtesy to the opposite counsel,
but the attorneys for the plaintiff have
now determined to press their motion
for oyer and inspection and upon receiv-
ing an order of the conrt to that eff ct,
will proceed at once. either upon the
merits of the case or in event OF a con-
tinued refusal without giving sufficient
legal reason to produce the desired
original letters will move to set
aside the Justification set up by defence
and for an order for contempt of court
against Mr.. Stanton.
The Tribune's special says: Wall
street is in a tremOr ever Senator Sher-
mans bill and communications by the
score have been sent to members OF
Congress protesting against the clauses
providing for the taxation of the bonds
and Directing to Shcrman's bill III gen.
eral. From canvass of the House,
however, it may be positively stated
that a majority are i'm favor of that sec
tion of the bill, and though the law
saws that they shall not be subject to
State or municipal taxation, the statutes
nowhere define that they shall be liable
to taxation by Congress if deemed adj
visable. There is a very strong dispo-
sition to subject them to taxation now,
and before the final adjournment of the
present session takes place. bill eff
fecting that purpose will undoubtedly
be passed.
There is considerable discussion here
on the District suffrage bill, striking
the word white from the laws of the
District of Columbia, and allowing ne
groes 10 sit on juries, which was passed
some DAYS ago, but which has not been
returned to Congress by the President
within the ten days prescribed by tire
law, the adjournment having taken
place before their expiration. The
President and his friends hold that the
Law is now virtually dead, and that
Congress will have to repass the meas
ure if they wish it put upon the statute
books. But this is mistake, as, ac-
cording to all precedents, the ten days
will not have expired until Tuesday,
January 9TH, 1868. The interval is only
a recess Of Congress, and not an adjourn
ment.
1t is probable that the order reducing
the force of wsrkmen in the Govern
ment service will not be enforced until
the present season of distress has eX-
pired.
An effort is making to secure 4 furth- |
er postponement of the collection of
direct tax, &c , in the South. owing to
the distress there. The Ways and !
Means committee have not decided upon |
the matter.
The strongest and best argument
urged in favor of the ratification of
the Reciprocity treaty with the Sand |
wich islands is, that while the United |
States would lose Sl,50O,0U0 a year in
sugar revenue, she would secure to her
self the freedom of the island aud tLeir /
use for all practical purposes, and pop
ulate il with Americans and have n
fair pretext for resisting their occupa- |
tion by England or France as an APP
do nf
The only bills signed by the Presi-
dent that were not reported TO Congress
before adjournment are the bills chang
ing tAe time Of holding the annual
meeting of the Union Pacific Railroad
Company and the bill changing the
name of Samuel Chase Barney. The
other bills in the hands of the Presi-
dent fail for lack of his approval.
Senator Howard. who has charge of
the Stanton investigation, is busily en-
gagged in preparing report on that
subject. 1t is stated that he has called
on the Departments of the Government
for further information, and that the
report will probably be ready as soon
as Congress reassem5les.
General Sherman left here last even
ing for the West, and will not return
till early in January, where he will pre-
side at the Board of officers, which has
been appointed for the revisal of the
laws and regulations Of the Army.
Generals Augur and Harvey are on the
Board.
The Worlds special says: The repre-
sentatives of the Fenian interest are
nrging the State Department and the
President to recommend Congress to de-
nand that reparation shall be made by
the British Government for the impris-
Onment of American citizens in Esq
land.
A New York weekly journal an
nounces upon what it terms high au- /.
tsority an alleged plan of Mr.. Johnson I
for running next fall candidate for I
President, q Governor for New York
and United States Senator for
that State. We have the highest au-
IN - ~ al. L.