Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-12-29
wAsriINGToN GOSSIP.
The Tenure of Oflice--ExfraA Session Oh
Congress - Possibility Of spht
Among the RaaicRs congressman.
Correspendenee Of the New York World

/
Among the Radical congressman.
Correspondence of the New York World
THE CIVIL TENURE ACT.
WASHINGTON, Dec 23.--The state
ments in these dispatches that the presen
Congress intend to continuo the civil ten
ure bill in force by system OF tactics
explained on Tuesday, had the elect to-
iay of makiog Gen. Grant declare, will
great emphasis, to two members OF Con-
gress. in favor of the FoItysfirst Congress
meeting in March next. That this state
ment was made cannot be doubted, and
the General also declared that, if Conk'
ling's bill to repeal the act for continu'
GUS session passes, his first official act vii
be to convene the new Congress in extra
ordinary session by proclamation forth
with. and he would so have il now under
stood, in order that the new members may
come to the capital in anticipation Of the
dsy to be named in the proclamation
which will be as early as possible. This
resolve is the first Grant has yet made
public at all in reference to his approach
ing administration. What his purpose is
is only to be explained by recent occur
rences, and principal among them is the
exposure of the intention to burden his
administration with all the clogs fastened
on Mr.. johnson. 1t is evident that he
intends to have something to say, and his
energetic declaration to-day fills the
Radicals with apprehension.
POSSIBILITY OF SPLIT AMONG THE RADI'
GALS IN CONGRESS-.
It is believed that possibility exists Of
split among Congressman upon the
question of burdening or unhanding
Grant, which will even show itself this
session. In the Senate such split is
but half concealed. The cause Of differ
ence is upon the bill transferring the
Indian Bureau to the War Department.
Wilson, as the mouthpiece of Grant,
presses the transfer, and Henderson, Mor>
rill, Thayer, and all the members of the
Indian Committee, oppose the transfer,
knowing that they are opposing the wish
of Grant, and insisting that the time has
not come for him to begin to shape legis-
lation and the introduction Of his name
by Wilson, if authorized, BODIES no good
in the future, and should be repealed at
once. 1t is evident that Gen. Grant in
tends to suggest to the next Congress all
that his indirect influence fails to secure
from this. 1t is conceded here that he
will accept no shackles, and that he de-
clareS the civil tenure bill, meant to
hedge an Enthusiastically executive, is in
its very animus an insult to himself II
continued. 1t is believed that Gen.
Grants desire will kill Conklings bill,
and that the Forty~irst Congress will
assemble under the present law F; but
such result will only be adopted to
avoid the trouble Of coming together a
little later by proclamation, and it settles
none of the questions on which difference
between Grant and the party is probable
in the immediate future.
THE GEORGIA SENATORS.
Joshua Hill, Senator elect from Georgia,
who was assured by Senator Sherman of
admission, has at last gone home, and
said he would not return until he was
GEOGRAPHICALLY advised either that his
credentials would be received or rejected.
1t comes out that Gov. Bullock eXerted
all his little influence to have the cree
dentials signed by himself at least dcS
erred until come action was taken in
regard to the condition of affairs in the
State. Hill accuses him Of duplicity
and Senator Sherman was pretty free in
his statements regarding him last Mon
day. No notice at all was taken OF DR..
Miller, the other Senator, who has not so
openly espoused RadicaliSm as his coli
league. Senator Patterson, of Tennes>
see, however, intends to offer Miller'a
credentials on the 9Th, and his case will
then be on footing with HIPS.
THE UNDERWOOD DECISIONS.
Underwood, of Virginia, has sent on a
committee Of attorneys to await the Ju~
dietary Committee of the Senate and stop
any inquiry into his decisions freeing
felons convicted before judges ineligible
by his ruling, under the fourteenth
| amendment. Underwood insists that ht
has enforced and recognized the amend
ment, and that what affects him vltlate'
it. The committee had an interview TO-
day with Williams of Oregon, but were
unable to get from him any satisfaction
| He moved the resolution on Underwood
and he claims that convictions IN Il,
tacto court are binding. In the case o
several of the criminals the State sheriff
have refused to recognize Underwood
ruling, and they are in Jail yet. In tn
case of negro to have been hanged 10
arson, only the Governors respite, no
Underwood's decision, saved him fror
execution.