Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-03-02
Latest from Washington.


Latest Washington specials contain
the following interesting items: -
Gen. Thomas has received an official
copy of his commission as Secretary OF
War ad interim. 1t is dated Feb 20.
Senator McCreery, after he was sworn
in to-day, was congratulated by Radicals
and Conservatives. h4.
The McCardle case will be before the
Supreme Court, Monday, to be argued on
its merits. aml Hu.seal sii 0 af
The Senate, to-day, held an Executive
session'of half an hour, during which no
nomination was acted upon but that OF
Wisewel, as Commissioner of Internal
Revenue, which was almost unanimously
rejected. gs "a
In debate, to-day, Trumbull charged
that the Secretary of the Treasury had
paid a large amount of money to two
Treasury agents, under threats of ex-
posure concerning some cotton trans
action. L
The President gave state dinner
party tonight Most of the Justices Of
the Supreme Court, who were invited
weeks ago, attended. The Chief Justice
did not deem it proper, in view of the
impeachment trial, for him to be present.
The loyal Alabama delegation have
been before the Reconstruction Commit
tee, pleading for the admission of that
State. They charge that the election was
unfair and that intimidation was the rule
against blacks, or the Constitution would
otherwise have been adopted. The COM
mittee have taken no action. 'pi
Senators are very discreet in converse
ton on impeachment, and no one seems
to have indicated how he will vote The
announcement in one of today's New
York papers that Republican Senators
have 30 expressed themselves as to lead
to the impression that they will vote with
the Democrats against parchment, is
looked upon here as the poorest kind of
guessw0rk.
The Maryland Legislature protests
against the rejection of Senator Thomas,
but declares the seat vacant, and will
elect some person who will be admitted.
This will give Democrats and Conserva.
tives twelve votes. 1t is hoped at least
seven Radicals will vote with them on
the Presidents trial
Colonel Moore, the Presidents private
secretary, was examined by the Impeach
ment Committee this evening, as. to
whether the President had issued any
orders to the army except through Gen.
Grants headquarters. He replied that
he knew of none beyond some inquiries
sent TO Gen. Howard, relative to the num-
Der of men employed in the Freedmen's
Bureau.
Surprise being expressed at the Treas
ury Department recognizing Stanton's
warrants, on inquiry it is ascertained the
money was actually needed, and it went
into the hands of the disbursing officers
of the War Department, Stanton not
controlling one dollar of it. 1t was
therefore matter of little consequence
who signed the acquisitions except in
technical point of view, and under
necessities of public service, McCulloch
consented to recognize the acquisitions.
The President left the matter solely to
the discretion of the Secretary of the
Treasury.
The bill directing certain money accru-
ing from the sale of captured and aban-
doned property to be paid into the Treas
ury was passed after some discussion. 1t
appears from the debate, there is a fund
of about $24, 900, 900 now in the hands
of the Treasurer of the United States from
this source The object of the bill is to
transfer it to the Treasury, whence it can
only be paid out on decision of the
Court Of Claims, instead of as at present
on the order Of the Secretary of the
Treasury. 1t was charged that the
Secretary had already reimbursed rebels
to the amount of Sl,OO0,000, and the
object Of the bill was to prevent him
from continuing to do it.
An important vote was taken in the
executive session of the Senate to-day,
regarding the course to be pursued toward
the President, pending his trial of i'm
parchment. Mr.. Sumner offered q
resolution that il was improper for
the Senate TO hold any intercourse
with the Executive after the notifea
ton received from the House Of Rep
resentatives that the President had been
impeached. A spirited discussion en-
sued, during which II became very
apparent that the resolution had but few
supporters, and, on g vote, il was re-
jected by large majority. This shows
that no bill to suspend the President
from Office during his trial can be found,
at least, in the Senate.