The Portland daily press., 1868-09-24
WASHINGTON.


WASHINGTON, Sept. 23-In the Criminal
Court in the Surratt case Mr.. Merrick contin-
ued his argument, contending that Surratt was
within the scope of the Presidents amnesty
and not one of the exceptions mentioned in
said proclamation.
Mr.. Bddle, for the Government, held that
by the act of the 29th of January 1867, repeal
ing the authority of the President to grant
general amnesty, Congress only has power to
make such pardons. and he questioned wheth-
or the President, under the Constitution, pos
sessed unlimited power to issue general am
nesty. He also contended that Surratt is in
no way within the scope of the meaning OF the
proclamation, and that he is one of the persons
excepted from its provisions, both by person
and designation of offense charged against him
After conclusion OF the argument Judge
Wylie reviewed the case As presented the
offence charged in the indictment amounted to
giving aid and comfort to the enemy, by enter
ing iuto a conspiracy to ahduct aud murder
the late President Lincoln. The offence was a
misdemeanor and not felony at common law
it was not treason according TO the definition
or other felony, and therefore was not covered
by the Presidents proclamation OF pardon and
amnesty of July last. The Court, for reasons
elaborately set forth, sustained the demurrer
Of the District Attorney 10 the plea OF the
counsel for the defendant.
Mr.. Merrick, Tor the prisoner, asked leave to
amend the plea. The request was granted by
the counsel Tor the Government, and the Court,
Judge Wylie, said the counsel for defendant
must be ready with his amended plea to-mOr-
row morning, he desired TO go TO work ON
the trial
FIGHT WITH APACHE INDIANS.
The following was received at the War De.
partment to-day:
Austin, Te1as Sept. % 2-Adjutant General |
United States Army:-A detachment of the |
9th cavalry from Fort Davis, under Lieut.. Cas- |
sack, overlook 200 Apaches under Chief Ar |
sarta, killed thirty, wounded an equal number, |
and recaptured two captives and 200 head of |
animals. The troops aso destroyed their camp |
and winter supplies. j. j. REYNOLDS,
Major Gen. Commanding.
THE RETRRNcHMENr COMMITTEE
The Retrenchment Committee in session |
this morning at the Treasury Department con- |
cluded their investigations, and adjourned to |
meet Thursday of next week at New York. |
Assistant Attorney General Ashton was before
the committee.
ASSIGNMENT
Capt. Andrew Bryson has been ordered to
the command of TIE receiving ship Ohio at
Boston on the 10th of October.
FREEDMEN's AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA
Brevet Major General Hatch, Assistant Com
missioner of the Freedmen's Bureau for Louis
lana, arrived here to-day accompanied by Gen.
Howard, and had an interview with the Secre-
tary of War relative to the condition of affairs
in his district
ARRIVAL OF GENERAL MEADE.
General Meade is here on his way South.
He had long interview with General Scho-
field this morning in which the subject of the
Camilla riot was under consideration. Cen
Meade will leave here tomorrow morning for
Atlanta.
APPOINTMENTS.
The following internal Revenue appoint
ments were made to-day: Storekeepers-Wm
r. BabsOn, Boston; Joseph B. Frost, Phila-
delphia; John w. Lenyard, New York.
THE GEORGIA RIOT.
NEw VoRK Sant o2-Tha Sums WoSbinr |
ton despatch says the subject of the Camilla
riots was discussed at the Cabinet meeting to-
day, but in the absence of accurate informa-
tion nothing was done. Secretary Schofield
remained with the President long after the
meeting adjourned, devising means by which
such outrages may be prevented in future.
MR.. SEWARD FOR GRANT AND coLFAx.
1t is reported tonight, ON what seems good
authority, that Secretary Seward to-day in Cab
met meeting openly avowed his intention to
support GRAFT and Coifax.
ARRIVAL OF THE GEORGIA SENATORS.
The Times Washington despatch says both
Georgia Senators, Hill and Miller arrived here
ready to present their case to Con-
gress. Some Republicans stated to Hill that
there would probably be no objection to his
being sworn in if his Credentials should be Of
tered, but DR.. Miller will probably fare differ
emily
THE wRANGLE IN THE CABINET.
The occasion of the lengthy Cabinet meeting
to-day was the acrimonious discussion regard
ing the distribution of government patronage,
occasioned by the declaration of Seward that
he intended 10 support Grant and Colfax-
Welles and McCulIoch announced themselves
for Seymour and Blair. Schofield and Evatts
quiet, and Randall had left the meet
ing before the discussion commenced. 1t is
hardly probable any change in the Cabinet
will follow this development, as the President
is undoubtedly satisfied with the control of the
of the Treasury, which for political
purposes is ten times as valuable as the patron
age of all other departments together.
BRAGADoCIo OF vALLANDIGHAM.
Information has been received here that Val
landigham boasts that no man can obtain an
appointment in the revenue service or any 9TH
er branch of government employment under
the control of the Treasury Department with
out his assent. Gen. Schenck, his opponent,
earned the gratitude of the people by his SER
vices during the war, and Valandigham earn
ed the gratitude of the administration.