Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1868-01-31
Matters at Washington
WASHINGTON, Jan 25.

w aSHlNolONs Jan ~.
A Bostonian direct from Alabama. says
that the new constitution will be adopted
hy the people. and Senators and Represen-
tatives to congress will he Immediately el-
ccted. This will show the loyal people OF
the North that the Congressional policy is
successful. although johnson and his Dem
ocratic friend. have done all in their power
to obstruct it.
Secretary Stanton has not as yet issued
any order countermandng the order Of
General Grant disseminating the Freed
mems Bureau in Tennessee after Februa-
~ 18TH but the Republicans from that
State in Congress are urging him to DO go
A Washington special says the report OF
Gen Banks, on the rights of American citi-
zens abroad, will be submitted on Monday.
| The report is more helligerent in tone than
the bill and n large portion of it is deyo-
| ted to the rehearsal of the sutferings endured
in the British prisons by Americans who
have been arrested on various charges du-
ring the last twelve months. Mr. Sumner.
who is ut the head of the committee on
Foreign Affairs in the Senate, does not re-
gard the bill! with much favor, and will. it
is understood hold it in his committee until
he government can have an opportunity
to consult with the new British Minister,
who is expected here next week, and wi no
has received instructions on this subject.
The presentation of the civil appropria-
ton hill. which will be made next week, is
looked tor with great interest, it being an
index of the progress of retrencnment.
The appropriation Tor the purchase OF
Alaska. is still held in allegiance in the
Committee on Foreign Relations at the ill.,
stance OF Secretary Seward, and there
seems to be no disposition on the part of
the government or the committee to axe
action on it. Mr.. Seward still declines 10
pay the $40 600 charged by the Attain tic
Cable for dispatches Oh the subject.
Gen. Garfield testified to the Committee
on Ways and Means tina, it WAS the opinion
Of the Military Conmlttre that no frduc-
ton Is possible AT the present time. The
Committee have been sligating this
branch Of the service and tiud that the tx
pcnditurc is enormous. especially on the
Indian frontier The troops there consist
mostly of cavalry. Subsistence is very
high, especially the stores required for the
horses and as the troops are widely scat
tered it is almost immosshle To effect a
reduction. The Committee feel that the
expenses Of the Government must he re-
dHced to II much lower figure than the
present estimates before the taxes can be
decreased.
The President sent to the House tl,i. a.
tcrn0on the report of Abraham ). Hewitt.
Commissioner of the United states to the
-. i'>-n,.itinn Of ISr- II Oh.
production Of iron aud steel in its econo-
mic and social relations. and is a ve,y
lengthy document. 1t WAS ordered 10 be
printed aud referred to the Committee Oh
Ways and Means.
The President has sent to the Senate the
followin. nominations:
j. Ross Brown. of California. Minister
TO China.
w. d. Bishop, of Connecticut. Commits
>ioner of Patterns.
Francis :. Pierce. of New Jersey. Con-
>ul-General TO IIayana.
The lowing additional nominations
We're sent to the senate to-day:
HczcAiah q. Wells, of Michigan. Consul
at Manchester England.
Robert :. Mathews. of Illinois. Consul
at Valencia.
Luther L. Webb. Superintendent of In
uldh -AiIdIS Tor New MeNicO.
Henry q. Worihiugton, Judge L. S Dis
;riet Court for Nebraska.
Thos. ID. Buskirk. Assessor Of internal
Revenue for the Second District Of Indian-
IA.
james S. Snead Assessor Internal Rev.
enue for the Fourth District OF Wisconsin.
The House has inst passed by Il large
vote the bill reported from the Committee
eli Banking and Currency giving State
Lee is.aiures power to tax the shares of
National Banks at the same rate per cent
un rs ether Invested capital
NEW YORK. Jan. 23-A special from
Washington says the Committee ON For
eign Relations have decided to recommend
the Sandwich Island reciprocity treaty. and
to confirm 5. S. Cox as Minister to Aus
tria.
The Committee on Frecdmcn's Affairs
have instructed their chairman. Mr.. Eliot,
f. tie House continuing the Freedmen's BIZ.
rrau one year after the 10Th of july next,
This matterwll he brought before the
House during the next few days. The
committee are unanimous in the opinion
that the condition of affairs in the South
necessitates the continuance Of the Bu-
reau.
Extensive correspon dcnce has been held
with parties in every State where tn Bu-
reau isin operation, and the opinion every
where prevails that it would result in much
evil to the freedmen to discontinue the Bu-
reau at the present time.