Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-02-19
Meeting Of the Reconstruction Conn
mIftee.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.-The Recon-
struction Committee held meeting this
morning. The first proposition presented
for consideration was to remove the disa-
bilities Of Mr.. Butler, claiming to be
Representative elect from Tennessee, and
suspending the test oath in his case in or
der that he might he admitted to a seat in
the House.
Mr. Brooks moved TO include John
Yong Brown, Of Kentucky, within the
scope of the resolution, not because he
considered Mr.. Brown Rebel, but be-
cause the House had declared he gave aid,
countenance and support to the rebellion,
and therefore ineligible to his seat, Messrs.
Butler and Brown TINS being preclnded
from the House on similar grounds. Mr..
Brooks amendment was rejected by party
vote
During the discussion il was said that
John Young Brown had not asked to be
pardoned.
Mr.. Brooks replied that il was true, but
the committee had decided TO remove the
disabilities of ex-Gov. Holden and nine or
ten others, who had not made personal ap-
plication for that purpose.
Mr. Stevens, Of Pennsylvania, said the
| committee had acted too hastily on the
| subject and desired further time.
The bill yesterday introduced by Mfr.
Bingham, for the admission of Alabama
/ into the Union, was considered for a short
| time.
Mr.. Stevens thoughtthe action ought TO
| be delayed until they could learn all the
facts. He believed the general bill was APP
plicable to all Southern States, and shonid
| be passed instead of acting upon these
! States separately.
Mr.. Stevens submitted bill for the
division of Texas into three States, proyid-
| ing the convention about assembling in
| that State fix boundaries of new States, and
further, each Of them have the same con
stiiution. He thought there ought to be
four or FIVE States carved ont of the Texas
territory, but would be content with three
Mr.. Stevens will report the bill to the
| House, it may be printed and referred
| back TO the committee for revision, il
| necessary.
Mr.. Higgins. Freedmen's Bureau Off
| Ger, appeared and made complaint against
| Gen. Gillem, in connection with a court
martial which acquitted a man named
johnson for the murder of a negro. The
| narrative was listened to attentiveIy, but
| led to no action OF. the committee.
A subcommittee of Ways and Means is
in session on the details and phraseology
of the new tax bill, which will not be re
/ ported for several weeks to come.
Amount of gold in the treasury to-day.
$104, 000 900, including $28, 100000 paya-
bic in gold certificates; the balance, $75,-
100000, belongs exclusively to the United
States. Estimated receipts of gold from
customs from this date TO lst of MAY, $28,-
900, 900, making an aggregate of $3.50, 000,-
| 600, out of which there ia payable lst
| March, $3.50, 900 due on 1910 bonds, and lst
May about 2, 700 900 interest due on $40
| bonds, leaving balance on hand OF gold,
after paying all expenses, of sos, 100000 or
ST., 100000 in coin certificates deducted.
| These estimates are in case no sales of gold
are made between the period.
Notwithstanding the constant retrench-
ment going on in various bureaus the appli
J cations for appointments in the War De
partment are as numerous as ever Appli-
oants invariably meet with the response
| that it Is impossible 20 make additional
appointments and that it Ia even cOntem-
plated to make a further decreaEe of the
force in this department.
Notice has been given to the British
Postofice Department that on and from the
first of March the postage for letters (half
| ounce) between the United States, East
Indies and England will be twenty-eight
| cents via Southampton and thirty-six cents
| via Marseilles Payment compulsory.