The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1867-12-06
LATEST NEWS.
From Washington
EAcHME

NEW YoRK, Dec. 2.-The Herald's
special gives the testimony of Hon. Mr..
Ashley before the impeachment Com.
mittee, concerning the Conover
trouble and alleged completely of tho
President in the assassination Ashley
andergoes a close examination, and
eonfesses to having written most of
the letters imputed to him in a pub.
lication Of the Assistant Attorney
General some time ago. He states
that he has not a living witness to
prove Mr. Johnson's completely in the
assassination of Lincoln, but from a
certain Theory, witch he religiously
believes, he had no doubt of it himself.
That theory Is nothing more nor less
than it has been a customary thing to
assassinate Presidents, Harrison and
Taylor both, according to AshleyIs
idea, having been poisoned through
tho Vaccinations of ambitions Vice
Presidents. Mr.. Buchanan, he thinks
was also poisoned, but got over IL.
THE PRESIDENTS VIEWS.
The Worlds specialsaysi it is under,
stood THAT the President adheres, in
the main, to his own plan of recon-
structton as heretofore Developed
He announces that there have been
no negotiations for the settlement of
the Alabama claims, and devotes
considerable space to the national
finances, hvoring, substantially, the
policy of the Secretary ofthe Treasury
regarding the volume of the Currency.
THE fosF OFFICE ~bErARrMESk
The Times special says that the
report of the Postmaster Gcnerai will
show some interesting facts regarding
the recent reduction on ocean mail
services, which Gov. Randall has Sc
cured by refusing to submit any long
er to the demands of the monopulies of
the English steamship lines.
During the past six ears the de-
partment has paid for the transporta-
ton of u mails from $l50,000 to
500 600 a year in gold over its re-
cepitS, to the British Government.
This amount wU were compelled to
pay by an old postal treaty, which
which expires in JANUARY next, and
which the Postmaster General has
refused to continue. The rate hereto
fore of the Cunard line has been
twelve cents in specie for single letters.
The Postmaster General, deeming this
price e%Xorbitant, has advertised for
proposals to carry the mails. The
owners of the Cunard line refused to
bid, but two Other lines entered into
o contract agreeing to transport all
foreign letter mails at fifteen cents an
ounce, making the cost per letter five
cents, books, papers, and others print
ed matter ut six cents per pound
payable %incurrency, giving three mails
per week-Tuesdays, Thursdays and
Saturdays.
This fact, and that of the positive
refusal to continue the old treaty
Under which the government was pay
ing tho British government 81 1000, 900
in gold, caused considerable discussion
In the British Parliament, and much
comment in English papers. The re-
suit was, the Crown now gives indi-,
cations of coming to terms which will
give us four mails per week to Europe,
instead of two, as heretofore, besides
an enormous saving in the revenues
Governor RandalPs report shows an
unekpended balance ofS700, 900 availa.
BILE for the current fiscal year, and esti
mates the deficiency for 1869 at ST.
500, 1000,
The Banking and Currency Com.
mlttee have not taken any important
action In regard to the currency, as
reported
A bill repeating the cotton tax will
be reported by the Ways and Means
Committee at al early day.