Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-02-13
Washington City Gossip.


and Stevens and others on the resolution IN
troduced by him some time since, proposing
to investigate the conduct of high officers OF
the Government, charged with mlsdemean-
ors-the article also representing that, IN
conversation with Mr.. Bingham, he tAshly)
had said that the resolution was intended 10
reach Gen. Grant. The reading of the ar
ticle created great deal of amusement, es-
pecially that portion wherein Mr.. Bingham
is represented as denouncing Ashley as a
fool. Some of the Democrats then wanted
Mr.. Bingham also to make an explanation,
but that gentleman, amid much laughter,
replied he had nothing to say and there the
matter dropped.
The politicians begin to talk of the organ
ization of the Fortieth Congress. Colfax
will be Speaker again, and Mcpherson will
be Clerk. The House can't do better. No
body is spoken of but Colfax for Speaker,
and it would not surprise me if the Demo-
Gratis made no nomination against hun. L
hear of one or two men who would like to
be Clerk, but ''they can't come In. Nc
Pherson is capable, honest, and thoroughly
reliable and radical.
The Indian Appropriation Bill was pas
sed, with but one amendment, and that was
to prohibit Gov. Alex Cummings from dis
DurSinS any moneys aS luuian agent III Soi-
orado
The President has signed an important
bill relating to habeas corpus. 1t provides
that the several courts of the United States,
and the several Justices and Judges OF such
courts within their respective jurisdiction,
in addition to the authority already confer
red by law, shall have power to grant writs,
of habeas corpus in all cases where any per-
son may be restrained of his liberty in vio-
lation of the Constitution or of any treaty
or law of the United States, and it shall be
lawful for such person so restrained of his
liberty to apply to either of said judges for
writ of habeas corpus, and if any person
to whom such writ of habeas corpus may be
directed shall refuse to obey the same or
shall neglect or refuse to make return there
to, in addition to the remedies already given
by law, he or they shall be deemed and Ia
ken to be guilty of a misdemeanor, and SHALL
on conviction before any court of competent
jurisdiction, be punished by fine not exceed
ing one thousand dollars and by imprison-
ment not exceeding one year, or by either,
according to the nature and aggraVatlon of
the case
1t is believed to be fact, that of all the
distinguished and able army officers who
have been summoned to Washington, not
U l.
though all of them were reckoned as
conservatives To secure the fruits of
the war, their verdict is, nothing less than
the Constitutional Amendment should be
thought of.
1t is believed that sufficient number of
returned rebels have been registered in
Georgetown to defeat the Union ticket in
the coming election there, but Congress
will interfere with its shield and beckler be-
fore the wrong is perfected.
1t is known to persons resident here,
though, perhaps, not to the country gener-
ally, that John H. Surratt had brother
Isaac, who was in the rebel army during the
war. 1t has just come to light that this
brother went to Mexico immediately after
the downfall of Richmond. Nothing was
known of him till October, 1865, when Gen.
Sheridan, then as now, at New Orleans,
learned that he had appeared in Monterey,
and crossed into Texas with the avowed in
tention of coming to Washington to assas-
sinate the President. General Steele, in
command on the frontier, very soon confirm
ed this intelligence; and Secretary Stanton
thereupon felt justified in placing guard
abou: the White House, which was kept
there for some time. No intimatien of the
matter was given to the President, as it was
feared that he would refuse such protection.
He finally got an idea into his head that the
guards were detectives, ,andealled the Secreta-
ry to account violent langusgr. This led to
explanations, and the subsequent withdrawal
of the guards.
The attempt TO galvanize the Democratic
party by the OLD Copperheads in this vicini-
ty has created quite an indignant protest,
and the National LntelEgeacer, speaking in
the interests of the secessionists, is furious
at the suggestion of Democratic National
Convention. Col. Florcnce, of the Consti-
tHtiO7eat Union, Is very anxious for the re-
suscitation of the old Democracy; whereas
the lRtethgencer and its school regard the
proposal simply as preparation for a con-
tinuous funeral. In fact all the signs indi-
cate that every attempt to make an organi-
zation against the Republicans in 1868 will
be dismal failure. There is no surer sign
of this than the cosfessions of the ex-rebels
now in Washington, and the fact that their
friends are everywhere giving up Andrew
Johnson in despair The evident indisposi-
tion OF the Senate to confirm Republicans
who have taken Office from Andrew John
son, on the plea of assisting to break up
their own party, meets with warm approval
from the rank and file of the Republican or
ganzation.
Senator Wilson submitted to the Senate
a communication from the Secretary of War,
from General Grant the plan
proposed by Col. Barker, of his staff, for
establishing permanent peace with the In
dians. 1t proposes, first, the transfer of the
Of Indian affairs to the War
Department for many reasons, among which
is the necessity of abolishing the trading
agency system. Second, the establishment
of territorial governments for Indians.
Third, the appointment of an inspection
board as temporary measure to examine
OF Indian agents and inspect goods
and agricultural implements furnished In
dians. Fourth, commission consisting of