The New York herald., 1868-02-22


70 mat effect He rsmsmbsrsd very distinctly that
.ne majority OF this body at that time un
: COMMITTEES to ''Ss a,..sIss.. - III. % subject. % and
taeir report was that telegram had been sen, through
me agency OF Mr. Harvey 10 tha. effect, some OF ihe
members OF the administration conceing themselves
under pledge TO morn The authorities Al Charleston
before that attempt should be made. Il seemed how.
ever that that mpre sion srroneOus according 10
letter received from Mr. Harvey this morning.
The letter was read. stating that Tor four days before
the hring Sumter the telegraph In the hanos OF
the government and NO pr vate dispatches could bs
sent and had been determined 10 attack Fort sumter
some time before, Mr.. Lincoln having messages
Charleston to inform the authorities and give them lime
10 reflect
Mr. GRIMES was gratined to know that Mr. Harvey was
vindicated from charge never, to his knowledge,
heretofore conradicted having always understood that
despatch was sent as stated with the knowledge and
appreciation OF tho Secretary or state and President
Lincoln. He now Understood MT. Harvey TO say there
nevsr was such despatch sent by him
spatch 70 tho governor Of South Carolina and he tMr
Cameronl had copy Of 1t IN his pocketoook only Lass
week. which had been lost.
Mr. SUMNER said he had q couple Of despatches from
MT Harvey 10 tbs Governor Of south Carolina placed in
his hands at the nms by The Secretary OF War, now
Senator from Pennsylvania lMr Cameron Four or A.
OF such dispatches had been by Mr. Harvey After
the lapse OF time he could not exactly their
tents, but thought they were substantially as stated He
could not say whether they sent uuder the au-
shorty Of the Secretary Of slate or moi,
Mr.. CoSKLIxs said he also had had copies Of these
dispatches which had been read In the House OF Repre-
seniaves with letters In Wind cation OF Mr. Harvey He
believed the charge cruelty unjust There evi-
uonC0 buhk Mr. harvey Dau oOno anything Dut what ne
PAD reason TO suppose he was doing with the approba-
on and a The instance Of those who ought to beea
the last 70 allow him TO bs assa,led.
Mr.. CAMERON SAID when he obtained the despatch he
had considered 1t very important and that ought to
be Kept secret, and carried n himself 10 Mr. LncMn,
who expressed much surprise as he d d. II seemed
very strange that such important which they
desired TO keep entirely secret should be revealed by
member Of the administration without consulting
other members Of the Cabinet
Mr. ANTHONY, ep) OF X J., said his recollection was
tina. such cnsrse mad BEEN made, out thA; upon m
with the consent Of the a1mlnis,r ration.
Mr.. SUhskR-Not the administration.
Mr.. GRIAEs-Aemb0rs OF the administration.
MIR. JOHNSON, tdem of Nd, was sure the Senator
from Pennsy lvania (Mr Caneron) was right that Mr.
Harvey did irausm. those dispatches without know.
ledge but equally sure that IL with the know.
ledge Of the Secretary oi State, and, as Mr. Harvey
supposed, with the knowledge OF President Lincoln.
Having been on friendly terms with Mr.. Harvey.
Mr. johnson believed that what he did was
with that conviction and with pure pnr.
a. ina, period denb, sss ,Ss' were nns made known 70
the Secretary OF War The Secretary or ate doubt
patriot really for time carried on The War and Navy
knowledge Of either, who more astonishei after
wards than anyb body else on nndng what had been
done
Mr. CAMERON said IL was n remarkable assertion that
Mr. Seward bad carried tbs War Department.
Mr.. JoHSsoN-Wihont your Knowledge
Mr. CAMERON thought II was not so, with or without
his knowledge; that he had maniness enough TO take
care that II snould not be done more tnan once. Mr..
Seward had never msdded wnh IL He dared say that
gentleman had very OF en- tod the Senator from
Maryland thinps which probably exactly
correct II he had said this he had certainly
said that which was 0Ot true. Mr.. Harvey
was not employed by TIE adm mis-. s.ration, though he
might have boen bv Mr. Seward his policy Of ending
the IN sixty days He mr. aneroE) believe
thai by temporziDg or by iatterng or b. coaxng
rebels they could make peace He believed then, what
circumstances have since Proved that the only TO
end the treat them vito The most perfect
rigor. He did not believe ,hat Mr. Seward bad inter-
tered with the Navy Department either. He suggested
that the best way would be 10 pass resolution askn.
MIR So e~ard whether he had authorized Harry TO give
that information 70 the Governor Of South Carolina at
that time
Mr. HENDRICKS, tdem.) OF I'D. asked whether the in.
formation communicated 10 the Telegram did not truly
represent the judgment OF ie CabnetY
Mr.. CAMERON "a d the pol cv OF tho Cabinet In that
particular was chsaged that ne could not ans~er tho
question, would he II NJ could II that
he ought not TO communicate
Mr. JOHNSON explained tnat he had merely intended
10 SAY that many acs were done by the Secretary OF
State which properly belon9ed 10 the War Department
! without the kDox ledge 0i ma head
Tho mater was then lad aside.
THE Nsw YORK CUSTOM HOUSE.
/ The CHAIR laid before the Senate communca' or
from the secre Of the treasury Ia reply resolu
| Of emposGs 10 the New York Custom House. which
states that from July 20 1867 to The date OF the resou
toms Depar mem OF New York Of foon elerxs twenty
two inspectors twenty night inspectors examiner,
two messeneers and ten temporary clerks, since DIS
charged, ~ An aggregate annual cost OF $78 600.
The Secretary states that this increase OF force
was absolutely necessary for the proper d's-
charge Of tho business of the port; and with
regard to the swenyt~o inspectors he says they
appointed for the pa pose o. carrying out the depart
Ient regulations concerning the export Of oi. ,obsc o
and spirits of domestic production. and that the
creased expense ~ more than compensated bv the fecs
collected 90 such sxp"rts In regard TO tac remaining
increase above spocned the Collector at New York
ports that the employment Of officers and conse-
aoent expense were rendered necessary by the large
OF work fallen in arrears during the past ad-
minstratoDs Of the Custom House bv OF the re-
moya OF the sga division, BY OF the aborious
oared to be msds rne Secretary also g,yes Se Col.
ectors statement that reduction OF force has hereto
tore been feasible but that II business continues
OF some reduction can probably be maio At an early
/ day.
THE prsTRIcr or coruSrrA UsuRY LAWS
Mr.. HARLAN, (rep1 OF Iowa. from The COMMITTEES on
the District Of Columbia reported, with amendments
the bill atIng 10 the usury laws Of the District Inc
legal rate of interest Ia Axed at six DER cent unless
specilsd by contract When II may be a. high ter
AsESDsryr Mn,Rr LAWS
Mr. CorH, rep) OF Cal, introduced oil amen din.
/ the import laws a. to allow drawback foreigr
nitrate OF soda manufactured into gunpowder In tn,
United States aud exported tberefrom the slma
foreign satpetre when 80 manuf,c, ired and exported
Referred to the Commit on Y Fnlne,
COMMISSIONS To EXAMINE CLAIMS oN rHs WAR DEPARTMENT
Mr. HowE (rep OF Wis, in reduced a bill organizing
n commission for the examination and decision o
| claims on tue War Department. which was referred L
the COMMITTEE tho judiciary Is provides for the
detailing by the Secretary Of War OF three officers
below the OF colonel to act commissoners snt
one not below the Of captain 70 recorder q
wnois may be referred all special ellms wth,n tn
jurisdiction OF the department, when presented eite
originally or on appeal Inc decisions o. the commits
department The commission Ia required 10 dispose o.
Toe claims In the ordor OF ther ding, aud pub bisl
weekly In a Warrington paper o brief statement o
+, thetr dscslona II 10 nnally provided that nothDi
contained In the bill shall be held to open for consd
Grafton OF said commission any Claim heretofore al
justsd-
REGISTRATION rEg rKRiroMxs
Nr WILLIAMS trepl OF Oregon, introduced bill Ia
provde for the registration OF electors ia the Terrific
o. the United states which vas referred TO The
| Committee Territories.
Aspuortos or AZ AAsRcAs crxss N CANADA
Bf suussR presented . resolution, which was adopted
requesting the President 10 communicate copies of any
TIE subject OF the abduction OF Aila
/ McDon Aid an American ctizen, In Canada
rHB REcDHsRUcIIos DyHArs.
The senate then took up the special order the bill 70
amend tho reconstruction acts SO that majority OF th
votes css shall decide elections aud 70 allow person
registered 70 vote in any part OF stats .
Mr. CosxLxo took the foor and commented on Mr.
Trnmbuls statement yesterday OF his oon,inuous op
position 70 the principle Of repairing majority OF tb
registered vetss and be quoted from the Gobe to shov
tast ths, Senator had voted for when the bill va
pending Hc for one believed that that action OF Con
gFsH vss right He rscitsd the state o. anaSs sxsun
before the bill passed, and said had been alleges
| Vh.t uf would gladly eeT