New-York tribune., 1868-12-21


TICR-CEN GRANTS RETURN-A MYSTERIOUS
MILLION DOLLARS
WASHINGTON Dec 20. 1863.
The Alaska Investigating Committee held another
reeting Yesterday. Secretary Seward ana your cor
respondent were the only witnesses examined The
former was voluntary witness, and made state
ment in effect that he knew nothing of any money
having been paid to the passage of the Alaska
Appropriation bil and that the expenditures of the
State Department in the transaction were not over
500. He had instigated the publication of several
articles urging the passage Of the bill, which were
gratuitOusly published in several newspapers and he
was also consulted by Mr. De StOecA about the pro-
pnety of employing the Hon. Robert J. Walker, and
be had recommended that gentleman as a man of
fine legal attainments, but he had no knowledge of
any payments that had been made to him OF any one
else without authority of law. Your correspondent
testified substantially that he know nothing
Of the subject under investigation, excepting
what he had heard from irresponsible per-
sons and what he had read in the newspapers
He said that it had been charged that he had been
paid 5000. and that the journal with which he is
connected had received $4,000. He denied having
received any money ever having been promised
any, that he had ever been approached on the sub
iect. The editorial course of THE TRIBUNE was op-
posed to the Alaska purchase and the correspondent
merely sent the news. He said that one Martin had
Of persons who he said he willing to swear had
been paid money for lobby influences When asked
bis opinion of Martin, your correspondent said that
he believed him TO be an nuntrustworthy person. The
Committee will hold a short session tomorrow and
sill probably be ready to report the reassembling
f Congress after the holidays.
The Reconstruction Committee had another pro-
iractcd session Saturday for the purpose of con-
sdering tho Georgia case. committee of 25 gem
tlemeu were before the Committee, urging the adop
ton Of such legislation shall give the loyal people
chance to have a fair election. The Committee are
already in possession of large stock of information,
showing the high-handed manner in which the Rebel
element are carrying affairs; but no legislation can
be matured relating to the subject until after the
holidays. Many GeOrgians are here, who favor the
bill that has been introduced by Senator Edmunds
10 repeal the act admitting Georgia and place her
again under Provisional Government. 1t is the in
tention Of the Senate Committee to ascertain the
views Of Gen. Meade on this subject that gentleman
being here.
The House was not in session yesterday, and the
Senate adjourned at about two o'clock. No business
Of importance was transacted. number of bills,
petitions, and memorials presented and apprO
priately referred. A batch of nominations re-
ceived from the President but action on hem was
deferred. Mr.. Pomeroy introduced a BIZ providing
for the reassembling Of the Georgia COnstitu-
tlonal Convention the purpose being TO make
certain changes and effect improvements in the
present Constitution Mr.. Chandler moved TO take
NJ the Copper Tax bill already passed by the House
upon which debate ensued, and the motion was lost
The nomination of the Hon. L. S. Paddock of Ne
braska as Governor of Wyoming Territory, was con-
frmed last Summer, but owing to the neglect of
Congress to make the necessary appropriations to de-
fray the expenses of putting the new Government
into operation. the vote on conhrmationwas recon-
sidered This gentleman declines denomination by
the President.
Messrs. A. A. Low & Brothers, William II. Aspin-
wall, Leonard W. jerome, and other wealthy mer
chants of New-York, who subscribed for building
the steamer Meteor, during the late war; have pet-
Toned Congress for redress from certain grievances
which they say they suffered at the hands Of the
Government The Meteor completed just as the
war closed and ocourse she could bs Of no service to
the Government She was seized by the Government
urou suspicion that she had been fitted out for an
unlawful voyage. Litigation ensued, which lasted
over three years and at length the Supreme Court
decided in favor of the owners Of the Meteor The
petitioners ask for indemnity for their losses and for
the passage Of such laws by Congress shall protect
ship owners in the disposition Of their property.
DuIing the rebellion the steamer Wren vessel
built by the Lards for the Confederate Government
was for a long time engaged in blockade running be-
tween Galveston and Havana. While on a cruise be.
tween those places the crew mutinied and the
vessel into port within the Union lines and surTen-
dered her to the United States authorities. She was
eonfscated and sold. Lairds agents afterward sued
tie Government for the recovery of the value Of the
vessel. claiming that she was their property and
when taken possession of by the United States Gov
eminent she was not engaged in running the
blockade. The Court sustained the techncaties
raised y the attorneys Of the Lards and decided in
their favor The owner Of vessel which had been
destroyed by the Alabama afterward Instituted
suit in New-York for damages, and similar suit
against the owners Of the steamer Wren was inst-
futed at Key West This enabled the Secretary OF the
Treasury to suspend the payment of the money OBJ
tained by the sale OF tho Wren TO the Lairds
Eyarts has ordered the dismissal of
the suit at Key West and it is probable that he will
pursue similar course with the suit pending in the
New-York courts. A resolution Of inquiry was passed
in the Senate on Saturday.
Many Senators and Representatives have already
departed for their homes, and there may be quo
rum in either House. 1t seems TO be the general un-
derstanding that in any event neither House will
transact any business except the presentation OF
privileged reports and resolutions. and that an ad
journment will be carried in accordance with previ
Gus resolution early in the afternoon. The recess
will last until Jan s. at which time it is expectedthe
Committees will have matured the Appropriation
and other bills, upon which action is to be taken inn
mediately after reassembling
The official report from the officers of the Freed
mems Bureau of Georgia for the year ending on the
lst Of this month. show that II coored citizens were
murdered during that time by the whites for which /
u whites were arrested. Three were acquitted out |
right and none were punished The report also |
shows that 10 whites were murdered by negroes, for