The Van Buren press., 1867-12-13
Telegraph News.
FROM WASHINGTON.

Finance Committee.
The House to-day, at 3 O'Clock, took
up the Impeachment: report and Mr.. Bout
well led off in two hours speech mainly
devoted to legal points in support of the
majority report in favor of impeachment.
lie was patiently listened to by the House
and large assemblage of spectators.
lie will conclude tomorrow. The rest
ofthe committee will follow in the debate.
AS fully anticipated in these dispatches
Two "cchs since, Dir. Ashley, oil ONO,
introduced in the House to-day a bill to
fix the time for holding elections for
Representatives to Congress and for 9TH
er purposes, the first section of which
provides that the Tuesday next after the
hrst Monday in November, in the year
1865, and the same day in November
every two years thereafter, shall be fixed
for the election of Representative to
Congress in each Of the States of the
Union, for the term commencing on the
4th of March, next succeeding the year
above named. The second section gives
the Legislatures of the several States
power to prescribe the time, etc, for
holding elections for Representatives to
fill vacancies occasioned by death, resig-
nation or otherwise. The third section
relates to the apportionment Of Repre-
sentatives and the division of States into
Congressional districts, and provides
that all districts which have been organ.
lied by acts of the Legislatures OF the
States now represented in Congress shall
remain unaltercd and unchanged by such
State legislation until after the census Of
1870 shall have been taken. This sec
ton is intended to apply to the Ohio
Democratic Legislature. The fourth sec
ton repeal all acts inconsistent with the
above. The bill was referred TO the
Committee Oh Elections.
Senator Wilson has received letter
from an army officer in South Carolina
assuring him Of the triumph of the Re
publican party in that State 1t says
that the returns from twenty. four dis.
tricts show that out of 96,66S registered
voters 81 ,4S1 have voted, showing a ma
jority Of 6,295 against the policy of mae
ton.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7.
House.-Yesterday, Boutwell, contin
ued his speech in favor Of impeachment
Wilso also spoke; he favored an imme-
diate disposition of the case, as the coun.
try was anxious to have that matter set
tied, and moved to lay the whole ques
ton on the table. The subject will again
be discussed to-day.
The New York Tribune's special says,
at private meeting of prominent demo
Gratis and conservatives, including Presi
dent Johnson, Gen Hancock was nomi-
mated for the next presidency. Promi-
nent citizens called on Gen Rawlings,
yesterday, to learn whether the general
of Hancock administration Of
civil matters. Gen. Rawlings stated that
when Gen. Hancock took command he
received special instructions from Gen
Grant, in regard to military matters in
but whether they covered Gen
Hancock's S recent action or not he could
not tell he presumed the facts would be
developed in few days, as the subject
hap been brought prominently before the
acting secretary ofwar and the president
by persons who opposed Gen. Hancock S
NEW ORLEANS Dec ;
Gen Hancock has issued an order re-
voking paragraph 5 Of Special Orders
No l25, and trial by jury will henceforth
be regulated and controlled by the Con
stitution and civil laws, without regard
to any military order heretofore issued
from these headquarters. The paragraph
revoked provides for the immediate re
vision Of jury lists to exclude all citizens
not registered voters under the Recon
struction acts.
The Convention to-day in Committee
Of the Whole, discussed the resolution
offered by Mr. Wycklf, ofNew Orleans,
asking Congress to pass an enabling act,
giving power to remove and appoint
State officials. Judge Cooley, Of Point
Coupee warned the negroes that the Re
publican party is loo.ing ground and that
they owed their seats in the convention
to Il sentiment which existed at the North
twelve months since, but does not now
exist
Still stronger opposition to Hancock
was eyinced. Rumors are circulating
that he will dissolve the convention rs an
to reconstruction.
I DEyALLs BLUFF, Dec. 9.
The steamerJ S. McCune, bound from
Jacksonport to New Orleans, with 100
bales Of cotton aboard, burnt at Prairie
on White river, Friday night,
the 9th. Everything lost. The steward
was burned to death no other lives lost.
New YORK, Dec O.
The Heralds Richmond special says,
the radical members of the convention
decided to subject the members Of the
convention to the congressional test oath
of 1862 and it is probable, if this test
oath is demanded, the conservative dele
gates will retire,
The Herald's special says Mr.. Bout