The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-05
FROM WASHINGTON THIS AFTERa0ON.
ESPECIAL DISPATCHES TO EVENING TELEGRAPH. ]
WASHINGTON February s,
The ICe-BIOCkade-RRilrOR Com munI-
cation with the South Cut on.

NASHlNGTON, February D,
The Ice- Observation-Disclosures COmmunI-
cation with the South Cut on.
The rain Of last night caused fearful freshet
in the Potomac, bringing down the ice with
Bridge and the Railroad Bridge across the
Potomac
ANIrailroad and steamboat communication is
now cut off from the South but the Frede-
rick sburE boats Will commence running as soon
as the floating ice is out of the river. A num-
ber of small sailing vessels were caught in the
ice jam, and sunk or seriously damaged
At the Georgetown wharves there is an inn
mense jam Of ice backed up, and IL is feared
that on the next tae great uaInage VIII ne uone
TO property. The flood is over the canal banks
in this city, and the water has backed up into
the cellars and restaurants along Pennsylvania
The surratt Indictment.
The Government witnesses on the indictment
against Surratt are Surgeon General Barnes,
Reed, and l.. S. Mcmillan; the latter witness is
from the West. and this is his first appearance
as witness in connection with the assassina-
tion.
The New Branch Mint.
The lot, three hundred feet square, on the
corner OF Fifth and Mission streets. San Fran
cisco, which was selected as the site for the
Branch Mint last September by General j. F.
Miller and John Jay Knox, and approved by
the California delegation, was yesterday pur-
chased and paid for by the Secretary OF the
Treasury.
It's extreme length is 22O feet and lis breadth
166 feet The cost of its construction will be
100000. The work will be commenced as soon
as the California Legislature cedes jurisdiction.
Generals Grant and Sheridan In Con-
gress.
Generals Grant and Sheridan visited both
Houses of Congress to-day. In the House of
Representatives General Sheridan was most
enthusiastically cheered by the members, and
by the populace in the galleries.
Philip Sheridan Makes a Speech.
General Sheridan was invited by Speaker
ColfaX to take the chair, which the hero was
virtually dragged into. when he said:-
"Gentlemen;-I am very much Obliged to you
Lion. l thank you sincerely for it, and wish
you all happinessp'
He then left the chair, accompanied by
Speaker Colfax, General Grant, and General
Schencl, and was introduced by them to the
individual members of the House.
IANoTHER ACCOUNT.
There was quite an exciting scene in the
House to-day, on the occasion of the visit of
General Grant and General Sheridan.
On motion of Mr.. Schenck the House took q
recess to enable members to pay their respects
to General Sheridan, and the General was in
troduced to the members by the Speaker.
The members crowded around the Hero of
Winchester, and quite scene Of handshaking
followed. Afterwards General Sheridan was
kept busy for some time writing autographs for
those crowding forward TO obtain them.
An Important Bill.
The Senate Finance Committee to-day
adopted the bill prepared by Jay Cooke and
other leading bankers with the endorsement OF
interest notes. The bill appeared in tele-
graphic correspondence of THE EVENING TELE-
GRAPH last week.
Letter from the Secretary of State.
AS much comment has been Occasioned by
two important bills becoming laws without the
signature of the President, the following COM
munication from the Secretary of State, which
has been laid before the House, may prove of
interest in that connection:-
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WAsHINGToE February |,
lsb7-Slr-I have had the honor to receive Rutnenti
Gated copy of preamble and resolution passed by the
House OF Representatives on yesterday, in which am
w-One "A bill TO repeal section IL of act TO sup
press insurrection and TO punish treason and rebellion,
10 seize and contscate the property OF Rebels and for
other purposes, approved July H. 1862 and another
bill ITO regulate the elective franchise In the Terri
tories Of the United States" which bills reported
Dy the Committee on Enrolled Bills to have been
presented by the President of the United states
pectivey on the the 9th ana 18th ultmo, have been
placed in my Qhis) Department
In reply have respectfully TO state tnat the Two
laws referred to in the resolutions were this day filed
In this Department together with an accompanying
note from Colonel William g. Moore, Whlch note Is rs
Ollows:- r----- -,
sC7-Sir:-I am directed by the President TO trans
mlJ to you act repeal section 10 ofan Act 10 sup
press insurrecton, Punish Treason and Rebellion
o Seize and Conhscate the Properly OF keoels and
for other purposes" approved July II, 1852 and
CT TO Regulate the Elective franchise IN the Terri
tories OF the United States These ollls were pre-
hsen returned by him the House in which they
r|inoted within the time prescribed by the Consti-
Ui tnS become laws they are transmitted
YOU or such further proceedings as the laws of the
United States require .-.-.r.,,-
nave the honor to Ss TsSP%eoeto9RE P%ooRE yOsr COsdient
r. Hon. WM II. SEWARD. Secretary OF State.
have the honor 10 be, sir, your o6edient servant,
To Hon SCHUYLER CoLFAX, Speaker of the House
of fReDresentatiYes.