The Portland daily press., 1867-01-04
WASHINGTON.
Nomination Of Gen. Grant for Pres.
Z ident by the Democrats.
Blu for the Impeachment of
the President.
THE TARIFF BILL.
Decision of the Steamer Spring.
box Case.
Blu to Organize the Militia.
WASHINGTON.
Btu to Oroa,.ise the Militia.
rREEDMEN AFFAIRS.
WASHINGTON. Jan.

AT AIRS
WASHINGTON, Jan.2.
A number of prominent Democrats are soon
to meet at Springfield, ILL.,, and put Gen. Grant
in nomination for the Presidency. Mr.. Morris,
formerly member of Congress from Illinois, is
said to be at the head of the movement
Mr.: Ashley, of Ohio, has prepared bill for
the impeachment of the President, which he
intends tointroduce in the House Monday next,
and which, he says, he is assured will pass in
that body.
The Secretary of the Treasury to-day sent to
the House of Representatives the report of the
Special Commissioner, David A. Wells on the
revenue. The pamphlet comprises 128 pages.
Inc report recognizes the demand for a change
OF the tariff. This cannot be sought for on rev.
enue grounds because the tariff is already high
ly productive, and the revenue has already
reached point much larger than was ever an
ticipated. The reason for the change must be
the industrial condition of the country the
causesof which, through their resultant OF high
prices, have produced disturbing effects on our
industry, and are stated to be: First, the scar
city of labor, especially skilled labor The sec
ohu cause TO which the present initiation of
prices may be attributed, is the adoption on the
part OF the Government of measure of value
as medium of exchange, and as legal tender
of an lrredeemable paper currency. Third, of
causes-and perhaps the most influential is the
extent OF the burden Of national taxatiOn-in-
tenslve duplication of taxes in turn entails and
maintains undue enhancement of prices; the
decrease OF both production and consumption,
and, consequently of wealth; restriction of ex-
portation and of foreign commerce, and a large
increase in the machinery and expenses of col
lection. Remedies are next discussed. The
Commissioner says: IL is not clear that legis-
lation can be made available to relieve the
scarcity OF labor. The evil growing out OF this
cause must in course Of time cure itself. The
remedy the aac0nd no nd Y,
the return to specie payments. The third rem
edy lies wholly within the control of the legis-
latve department of the Government. The
Commissioner then describes in what manner
and to what extent can the reduction of exist
ing taxes be now made compatible with the re-
qnirement of the Treasury for administration
expenditures, interest, and desirable and GER
tain reduction in the principal of the national
debt. The Commissioner recommends, first, o
reduction of the present general tax of per
cent. on products and sales of manufacturing
industry to per cent, and corresponding re-
duction in specific taxes levied ON analogous
branches of industry Second-The entire re-
moval of all direct internal taxes now levied on
productions OF bar, plate and sheet iron, and of
such additional taxes as are levied upon the
elements OF the manufacture of steel. Third
The reduction of the tax of 21-2 per cent. on
the gross receipts of sugar refiners to 1-2 or
per cent. Fourtn-The entire removal of in
Uernal revenue duty on sulphuric acid, and
upon mining and the manufacture of emory
tlfth-The entire removal of the internal rev.
enue tax upon the manufacture of salt. The
total amount of reduction of revenue conse-
quent upon the adoption OF the above recon-
mendatlons, taking the receipts OF the last
fiscal year as basis of calculation, may be
estimated at about thirty five millions of dol
lars. The Commissioner further recommends
as basis of present and future legislation, the
principle of abating the duty on raw material
10 the lowest point consistent with the require
mputs of the and nlapinU ha
tree list such raw materials, the product mainly
OF tropical countries, as essential elements in
the great leading branches OF manufacturing
industry and do not come into competition with
any domestic products. On the principles laid
down the Commissioner prepared bill, which
accompanies the report. alE 80
Representative Latin and other declared in
their speeches to various aSsemblages, that the
majority OF Congress in what they did acted in
no spirit of malice or revenge toward the South
In voting for the constitutional amendment,
obey believed it was for the benefit of both sec
lions, and they urged their auitors to adopt
that amendment speedily as means of restor-
ing the late rebelliOus Soates to all their rights
and privileges in the Union.
Some of the Congressional party say there is
occurring all over the South among the masses
a wonderful political revolution. Heretofore
they have believed that the constitutional
amendment was designed to give suffrage to
Che negroes and disfranchise every one who had
was entertained by the best educated and most
prominent citizens, but on being assured to the
contrary, many of them expressed the hope
that Congress would forbear to precipitate ac-
ton until that political subject be further can
vassed. On their return they found that the
views of leading men had undergone thor
ongh change, among them three members OF
the Virginia Legislature. Other statements
are made confirmatory of the facts above state
ed, concerning the constitutional mendment.
The United States Supreme Court to-day de-
cided the steamer Springbok case. The vessel
was seized in 1863 about 200 miles from Mas
sau, whittier she was bound from London. She
was suspected of intention to run the blockade
of some Southern port. 1t was ascertained
that her cargo was contraband of war, consist
ing in part OF swords and other military impli-
ments, and also buttons marked with the letters
"C ). A" The southern district of New York
condemned both vessel and cargo, but the U. s.
supreme Court overruled the decree as to the
vessel, and affirmed the condemnation of the
cargo on the ground that the latter was clearly
conJraband or war, and that although there
was nothing to show that the Springbok de-
signed to pursue her journey from Nassau to
the Southern blockade ports, the goods were
evidently to be carried from Nassau to supply
the military forces at that time arrayed against
the United States Government.
This has been a day of much excitement in
Congress, especially in the House. The cause
OF it was owing to the speech and propositions
of Mr.. Stevens which produced more than
usual agitation, and which will prove the cause
of more bitterness at the South.
There is very general feeling among the
members of both Houses against any further
reduction of the currency, and Senator Sher-
man himself to-day expressed the belief that
Congress would not interfere with the present
currency law at all, or in other words would
neither authorize contraction or reduction.
The Senate Committee on Territories have
considered the admission of Nebraska An
amendment will be reported making no dis
tinction OF color or race, which will harmonic
opposing views. The same principle will apply
to Colorado. p .1 IA ttI
Representative Hogan to-day introduced
bill to organize, arm and discipline the militia
and other purposes. 1t provides that all able
bodied male persons who shall have been born
or naturahzed in the United States, or shall
have declared their intentions to become citi-
zens, or snail have actually voted at any State
or territory election, and all between the ages
of 1S and As shall be enlisted IN the militia
The national guard of the United States shall
consist OF two regiments of infantry organized
OF volunteers from the enlisted militia In each
district and territory represented in Congress,
one OF which shall be composed Of colOred men
of more than one-third of the enrolled militia
OF such districts or territory. No person shall
be an officer or private in the national guard
who shall be disqualified for, or exempt from
enrolment in the militiG, or shall have volun-
tarily borne arms against the United States or
given eountenance or aid to the rebellion, or
accepted Office under the late Confederacy 1t
provides that Congress may order out the whole
national guard to execute the laws of the
United States.
Commissioner Howard, of the Freedmen's
Bureau, in letter to the Secretary of War, in
answer to a resolution of Congress, reports that
while the colored population has decreased in
Virginia, North and South Carolina, Arkansas
and Missouri, it remains about the same in
Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana, and has il
creased in Texas and Tennessee. He says the
Assistant Commissi oners of the States OF LOU
islana, Florida and Arkansas report increased
disposition upon the part of the freedmen to
take advantage of the homestead act. He sub
mits synopsis of the laws of the Southern
States in regard to freedmen, and says the re-
ports of Assistant Commissioners contain evil
dence that the manner OF executing laws on the
part OF the magistrates and jurors in some
parts of the South does great injury to tine
freed people. The necessity OF enforcing Gem
eral Order, No. A, from the headquarters of the
armies of the United States in Louisiana
Mississippi and Texas, by the Assistant Com
missoners is FULLY established. The decisions
OF some of the district Judges in Mississippi,
that the civil rights bill was unconstitutional,
has robbed freedmen of privileges intended to
be secured to them by that law. The civil
rights bill is not i'll full operation in some por-
tions of the South, and consequently, MANY
criminals are at large. The Assistant Commits
sioners generally, favor the contract system,
as freedmen in most cases, fill their obligations
Their employers have, as general thing set
| tied with the freedmen in accordance with the
terms of the contracts; yet when auy of them
nave Jailed to do so, the State laws have not In
an cases afforded the freedmen the proper rem
eules anu protection. For this reason the As
siseah' commissioners report that they have
relieved the evil as far as If was noSshle nv AS