Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-01-24

dents Organ Pfep0rRg 10 Demoiish Gen
eral GraRt--D0tagS at Congress.
WASHINGTON, Friday, Jan. II, 1865.
Gen Grant, President johnson, and Secre-
tary Stanton still supply the staple topics
of conversation to the political and other
circles Of Washington. At one time, it is
the President who is on the stage, then the
General and again the Secretary of War,
either playing his great or little part, as the
case may be, and applauded on this side and
condemned on that Gen. Grant, however,
is the central figure and all eyes are intently
fixed on him. Very many people are ex-
ceediDgly uneasy that he does not speak
little more, and are putting all sorts of
speeches into his mouth, such speeches as
they think he ought to make but does not.
His appearance on the floor Of the House
yesterday when reconstruction was being
debated has led to all sorts Of stories in ref
erence to his views on that particular point.
1t was inferred Immediately that he wished
the bill pending before the House changed
somewhat-that he did not want the ap-
pointment ofthe district commanders thrown
into his hands. But Gen. Grant did not
speak one word on the subject, and merely
came there to listen to the feryid eloquence
of honorable members. The General, so
far from volunteering opinions, minded his
own business, as he said he always did in
some recently published evidence, and ex-
tended himselfwith commencing the rheto-
ric of his friends. When the subject Of re-
construction comes before Gen. Grant, he
will decide upon it, and not until then.
Secretary Stanton is at the War Depart
ment, apparently quite happy and content
ed He receives his friends very cordially,
and disposes of all the business that comes
before him with his usual promptness and
dispatch Senators Fessendon, Cameron,
Anthony and Wilson, and a swarm of Rep
resentatives, called on him to day, with all
Of whom he had pleasant interviews.
The Presidents organ here will, IN to-
morrow issue, contain an official statement
from Mr.. johnson to the effect that several
members Of his Cabinet to-day compared
notes of the Cabinet meeting held on last
Thursday, and all agreed that at that meet
ing Gen. Grant acknowledged THAI he had
made an agreement with the President that
he would give him timely warning of what
he would do should the Senate reinstate
Mr. Stanton in the War department. The
same article will call on Gen. GRAFT to ex-
plain, which of course be will do-in his
usual way
The House Military Committee to-day
had long discussion on the question Of re-
ducing the army, and, it is understood,
came to the conclusion that it is not advisa-
bic at present to cut down the military
| forces further than viii be accomplished BY
the recent orders of Gen. Grant. 1t APP
pears from data before the Committee that
| nearly one half Of our troops are in the
| Southern States, and that until the work of
Reconstruction is complete their services
are necessary. A large portion of troops
are in the Indian country guarding tele-
graph lines, wagon routs, &c, and so far
from a decrease being possible there, the
present force is hardly adequate to the dis
charge of the work required. Gen. Grant is
/ of opinion that until that time arrives he
cannot spare a man. He therefore recon-
mends that the present maximum be retain
| ed in service.
Gen. Hancock has issued an important
| order to Registers of voters, advising them
that the law fairly interpreted must be their
guide in determining qualifications, and not
Gen. Sheridan S construction thereof, as set
forth in his printed memoranda of disqualf-
cations issued in May, 1867
Speaker Colfax gave his first reception Of
| the season this evening. 1t was attended
By nearly all the celebrities Of Washington.
Pope, Ord, Sheridan and Stanton were
there.