Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-03-14
THE EVENING STAR
Washington News and Gossip.

THE FLORIDA CoNvENrIoN-GEN. GRANT
ORDERS THAT THE TINE FOR HOLDING THE
ELECTION TO RArIFy SHALL Nor BE Gu ANeED
Reference was made by us on Wednesday to
the movement made by the members Of the
Constitutional Convention of Florida to have
General Meade change the time Of holding the
election to ratify the new Constitution from
May to April. General Meade, under date Of
last evening, telegraphs to Mr.. Alden, member
here, hatGeneral Grant teleeraphs his positive
opinion that the reconstruction law does not
permit military district commanders to change
the time of voting after a date has been fixed
upon by the State Con vention. General Meade
therefore declines to make this change. Mr.
Gleas on, Republican candidate for Lieutenant
Governor of Florida. arrived here last night,
direct from Florida. He was selected as
financial agent of the State, to come North to
negotiate the sale of State bonds issued to
defray the texpenses of the Con vention He
states that the only opposition to the new Con-
stitution comes from the negro element, led by
ex-army officers, who, failing to secure nomi-
nations on the State ticket, have melted the ne
groes against the Con nsttution by making them
believe that if it is adopted they will all be re.
turned to slavery, and misleading them with
the idea that a clause in the constitution SO pro-
vides. The whites who are doing all this mis-
chief are men from the North, he says, with
not to exceed six months residence in Florida
The two menl bers of the con vention here com.
plain bitterly of misrepresentation circulated
against the recent convention through the cor
respondence % the New York Tribune from
that State, aa4 state that much damage is done
to loyal efforts being made to restore the State
thereby. The rebels are not manifesting any
opposition to the constitution, and will gen.
orally vote for its adoption, through fear that
unless they do so the convention, on Assem-
bling, will insert provision in the constitu-
tlon disfranchising them.
REPORTED TROUBLE IN TENNEssRE.-There
is some feeling here this morning over news
from Tennessee that trouble may be looked for
there. Yesterday afternoon General Grant re-
ceived brief dispatch from General Thomas,
stating that the enemies of the present State
government in Tennessee were organizing for
resistance to the laws, and to get control of the
State. Gen. Thomas asked for Immediate In
structions. His telegram to General Grant az
sured the latter that these statements were GER
tainly founded upon positive movements of the
rebels. Without delay Gen. Grant telegraphed
to Gen. Thomas to use all the forces at his COM
mand to preserve the peace and protect the
State authorities in their execution of the laws
were needed. Nothing additional has been
heard this morning. Various reports have been
in circulation to-day to the effect that the diff
ficulty in Tennessee was in some way counte-
nanced by the President and that General
Thomas had ielegraphed to that effect also, that
Gen. Grant, in his reply, had not communi-
Gated with the President. These reports are
not known TO have any foundation, but they
serve to show the panicky state OF feeling here
to-day.
ADJUTANT GENERAL THOMAS was summoned
yesterday to appear before the impeachment
managing committee, for the purpose, it /;
stated, of elicitng from him the substance of a
conversation said to have occurred at the re-
ception at the White House on Monday night
last General Butler conducted the examlna-
ton of the witness, which lasted nearly two
hours. The substance of the evidence was, tha
at the reception on Monday night Genera
Thonsas, whilst in company with friend, was
approached by a gentleman from Newcastle
Delaware, an old acq uaintance, who spoke O.
the present political troubles, and advised Gen-
eral Thomas to sstand firm The General re-
piled, sam not standing frml'' "Yes,'' was
the answer; "but you must kick that fellow
out," (Stanton.) sWe will do that the Cen
eral replied. The latter also stated to his Della
only as private citizen, and would obey no
orders emanating from him; that he (the Gen
eraD was the Secretary of War, and none other
General Thomas, il is reported, repeated the
last before the committee, and told them that
such was his intentiOn; that he would obey no
orders OF Mr.. Stanton, nor recognize him save
as private citizen.
PETITION FOR MANDAMUs ON THE DISTRICT
SUPREME CoURT.-Mr. Joseph H. Bradley, sr,
who, it will be remembered, was dismembered
from the bar OF the Supreme Court of the Dis
trict OF Columbia few months since, tor con.
tempt OF court, has filed in the Supreme Court
of the United States a. petition for a writ of
mandamus, to compel the District Supreme
Court to reinstate him. The judges had the ap-
plication under consideration to-day.
RELIEvED--By Special Orders No. 81, Just
issued by command of Gen. Grant, the Presi-
dent directs that Brevet Brgadier General Jno
l.. Gardner, Colonel U. s. A, (retired) be re.
lieved from duty as a member of the Board to
retire disabled army officers.
STATE DINNER.-The Sixth State dinner this
season Of the President took place last evening
in the State dining room at the Executive Man
sion. There were present besides the President
and the ladies of the Executive Mansion, Rep.
StWdit. DECK, ITlmDIe.
Hawkins, Mungen, Marshall, Randall, Ross.
and several other members, nearly all of whom
were accompanied by ladies. Judge Nelson
of Tenn, one Of the Presidents counsel, Col.
Morrow and MIR. COwan, Private Secretaries,
were also present.
BREvET Col. ]. Mel. TAYLOR, Commissary
of Subsistence, has been ordered to report to
the CommIssary General at Washington, ID. c.,
for temporary duty.
The WHITE HOUsE.-The President was en-.
gagged during great part OF to-day with
Mr.. Stanbery and Judge Black, Of his counsel
and but few visitors were admitted to the Ex-
ecutiye office. Senator Hendricks, Senator
Buckalew, and several Representatives, had
interviews with the Pre- esident this morning
SECRETARY BROWNING visited the Attorney
Generals Office this morning for the purpose
Of attending to any business of that ONCE He
viii divide his time equally between the In
terror Department and the Attorney Generals
ONCE. 80 o.
SPEAKER CoLFAx gave another Of his popu-
lar receptions last evening. A large and dis
tingnis he'd party was in attendance to pay their
respects to the genial Speaker Of the House Of
Representatives and his mother and sister,
who assisted in receiving the guests, who were
as numerous as on previous occasions.
Dv~r 49, -rAA