Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-12-31
BY TELEGRAPH.
DISPATCHES.
NEW YORK DISPATCHES.

From New OrIeaBs-SEeefing OF the
Union League-The Removal of Gen.
Ord - Exaggerated Reports - Gen.
Howard, etc., etc.
NEW YORK, Dec. 30.--The Tribune's
New Orleans special says: ]: The State Cons
vention of the Union League, now in
session here, has unanimously nominated
Chief Justice Chase for the Presidency.
The Herald's New Orleans special says:
The first meeting of the Union League,
mostly negroes, was held last night in La
Fayette square Rev. T. w. Conway. late
Commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau
for this State, presided. Resolutions de.
claring the object of the league to be the
release of Louisiana from Rebel rule were
adopted.
During the meeting, extras containing
news of the removal of Ord and Pope, fell
like a boombshell among the leaders.
The reports of distress in all parts of the
South, among the whites and blacks, are
far from exaggerated.
The Times special says that the removal
of Gen. Ord is explained by the fact that 1t
has been made at the suggestion of Gen.
Grant, who, while opposing any change in
the othes districts IS 10 the progress Of re-
construction, has been of che opinion for
some time that both the military and civil
administration in the fourth district would
be improved by change of commanders.
The President acceded to Gen. Grants re-
quest and included Gen. Ord in the order ,
of removal. He proceeds at once to Cali
fornia to relieve Gen. Mcdowell, who will
assume command of the fourth district on
his arrival from the Pacific coast. This
change will require about two months to
accomplish it. The particular reasons
cannot be stated which have led Gen.
Grant to desire the removal of Gen. Ord,
but those who have closely watched the
administration of the latter have probably
not failed to observe certain peculiarities
and Inconsistencies of action, indicating The
scope of command rather beyond his cali
bre. The state of affairs in his department
at the present time is not regarded as very
promising.
There is excellent reason for believing
that the reports of destitution, which are
now being circulated as coming from the
South, particularly from Gen. Ord's de-
partment, are exaggeratiOns so far as the
most reliable information goes to show that
the destitution is rather more prospective
than present. 1t may be greater before
spring, but just now it is not very alarming
Among the blacks it has been largely
caused by the action of the planters in dis
charging their hands at the close Of the
season, in violation of their contracts, and
in some cases dismissing them because they
voted the Republican ticket.
Gen. Howard stands ready TO use por-
tion of the funds of the Freedmen's Bureau
in relieving any actual distress by the issue
of rations, and it is probable that General
Hancock's request to employ the unem-
pioyed blacks in repairing the recent breaks
in the levees, and to issue rations to them,
will be complied with.
Thad. Stevens has so far recovered from
his recent indisposition, that he is engaged
in the preparation of a speech in favor of
the Alaska appropriation bill. He insists
that his health is not 80 poor as either his
friends or enemies think il.
The statistics elected by the Ways and
Means Committee, in its investigation of
the whisky frauds, show that the govern
ment has collected only eighteen cents in
stead of two dollars per gallon. These
statistics were based on the data furnished
by the records of the Revenue Bureau, and
| did not include any estimate for loss which
the government has sustained since June
last, since which time it is we'll known the
receipts have continually decreased. 1t is
probable that the detailed statement of the
amount ofrevenue derived from this source,
called for by the House, will show that
| less than nine cents per gallon have been
collected during the present fiscal year.
Senator Henderson has prepared sub>
- L.
which he will present as soon as an oppor-
tunity offers. He will also prepare at an
early day complete system for remodeling
the entire Revenue Department of the gov-
ernment, on a basis which will make it
independent in its action, and not subject
to political inquiry, and which will involve
the reitting of every Office of the depart
ment
The Herald's special says it has trans
pired that a number of leading Conserva-
tives have proposed to the Legislatures of
the States which recently went Democratic,
to repeal their resolutions ratifying the four
teenth article of the constitution of New
Jersey, Ohio and California. Were they
to do this, it is believed the article could
not be grated upon the constitution.
Gen. Howard proposes to meet the cases
of distress in the South by liberal appli-
| cation of the surplus funds under his con-
troll as head of the Freedmen's Bureau.
In the case of some South Carolina plant
ers who had no money to commence their
| operations for raising cotton last year, Gen.
| Howard, though not legally authorized to
make such disposition of the Bureau funds,
| advanced a sum of $4,000, taking lien
Of the crops for the repayment of the
money when the planters sold their crops.
| The entire amount was hquidated and Gen.
| Howard's benebcent course was greatly ap-
preciated. In the case of the Mississippi
planters who lost everything by the river
inundation, it is proposed to adopt simi.,
| lar considerate plan of action; and to re-
| lieve immediate disasters among the work.
ing people tits suggested TO establish depo:s
| of provisions at points convenient to tile
districts in which the greatest want pre-
walls.
Secretary McCuloch has had prepared
a statement showing the amount of money
furnished by the several States for the
equipment Of troops, etc, during the war.
From this statement it will appear that
$40,000,000 were advanced by States that
$30,000,000 have been adjusted, and of the
$l0,000,000 claimed about seventy per
cent will be allowed by the United States.
The Tribunes special says that notwith-
standing the abrupt termination of the
correspondence between Secretary Seward
and Lord Stanley on the Alabama claims,
it is understood the new English Minister,
Mr.. Thornton, comes empowered with full
authority to reopen the question, with a
view to effecting an easy and smicable adj
justment of the difficulty.
Nj is possible that the public debt state-
ment will not be ready till JANUARY 9th.
The exhibit will be more favorable than
that of the last month, except in the item
Of the gold balance, which will be lower,
owing to the payment of $30,0O0O00 in
coin interest due on January lst. The
Secretary would have retired the four
millions of dollars per month for the last
month and the present one had it not been
for the action of the House in suspending
his authority to do so.
Canadian Parliament.