The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-01-16
TIE CRESCENT'S DISPATCHES.
FROM WASHINGTON.


Supreme Ceurt-The New York Trfbuae
on the Action Of ongress-The President
"Must be swept Awsy'-ssanton Urged not
10 Kes'gn-9rsat Formally Resigss His Of
nee 10 stanton = AIlegsd Unfstthfalness of
Grsnt-0r amt says Meade has Acted Has
tly-Preceedings of Congress-No Steps
| Taken In the stanton Matter-PersonaI
| and Political.
| WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE following Is the
| bureau bill introduced yesterday. Section first
continues in force the act Of March 8, 1865, one
| year from July Is, 1868, with notifications con.
tanned In this bill.
| Section second authorizes the secretary of war
at his discretion TO discontinue the operation of
| the bureau when State is fully restored to its
constitutional relations In the Union, and is rep
I resented in Congress, provided, however, that
| the educational bureau remains undisturbed until
such State shall have made suitable provisions for
the education OF freedmen.
Section third provides that unexpended bal
| ances shall be applied at the discretion of the
commissioner To- educational purposes, subject to
| the provisions of the law applicable thereto.
Section four authorizes the commissioner Of the
freedmen's bureau to retain in the bureau. when
ever their services are required. officers. medical
men, etc., who have been or may be mustered out
| OF the military service, with the same pay, COM
pensation and allowances that they previously re-
| ceived.
The Supreme Court had before it the case Of
JohI X. Elgee, Administrative, plaintiff in error,
| versus Oliver Lowell. Elgee, it appears, was a
member of the Louisiana secession conven-
tion in 1854 about 400 bales OF cotton belonging
to him was seized in Mississippi by agent of the
treasury department, as abandoned property and
transferred 10 Mr.. Lowell, also treasury agent,
and under the provisions of the law removed to
State not in insurrection. Suit was brought in
Missouri court to recover the property. Some
time after the commencement Of legal proceed
iDgs, Elgee availed himself of the amnesty procla-
nation of the president, by which he claimed he
was restored to all his rights of properly and
among others his right to the cotton. Distin.
I Il.
| question, Attorney General Stsnbery appearing
| for the United States, in company with Messrs.
Hughes and Drake, who were retained by the
secretary of the treasury.
The Tribune opens an editorial on Congress as
follows: The House and Senate are doing nobly.
The restoration of Mr.. Stanton was pluoky and,
at the same time, prudent. The passage Of the
bill in reference to the Supreme Court was
timely. Now let the reconstruction bill go through
and we shall have an end of this Hancock bust.
ness, with Sheridan back in New Orleans aud
Sichles in Charleston" IL adds This is no time
to split hairs or chop logic, or dawdle over the
mere technicalites of precedent. The work must
be done. We must reconstruct the South in spite
Of the president. We must override him, and If
he persists in this fatal and deporsbIe course he
must be swept away as an impedimentt to recon.
structon."
paper has been circulated in Congress signed
by many Republican senators and congressman
urging Stanton not to resign. There is no proba.
bity of his immediate resignation and nothing has
Stanton. 1t was mentioned in the cabinet to-
day, but not formally discussed.
The president did not receive the certified COPY
on which Stanton and Grant acted until O'Clock
this morning, and at half past 10 Grant formally
resigned his Office to Stanton, and at half past ii
the president received a note from Grant quoting
the Senate resolution, adding that under the ten.
ure of Office bill Grant considered himself no
longer secretary of war dd Interim
The president asserts that Grant repeatedly as.
sured him that he (Grant) would take no action
without informing the president, but would leave
the war department as It was when Grant assumed
accuses Grant of bad faith. At this hour nothing
has been decided on by the president.
WASHINGTON, Jan. l5.-This mornings Intell-
gencer says: II Is understood that within
patch announcing the removal by General
Meade of Governor jenkins, of Georgia, on
account OF his refusal to sanction the payment
OF the Georgia negro convention out of the State
funds, Gen. Grant expressed the opinion that
Gen. Meade had acted hastily and should not have
removed Gov. jenkins, and that the convention
had no right to be paid out Of the State treasury"
The Connecticut Republican convention nomi-
mated Marshall for governor.
There was ten hours extra cabinet session to-
day.
Grant and Sherman had a long interview with
the president.
1t is officially denied that Stanton drew salary
House.-Tbe COMMITTEES on public lands
reported adversely on the bill giving
public lands to negroes under the home stead
lawR.
bill amending the homestead law, allowing
settlers to make the necessary affidayits before
clerks OF county courts, was passed.
A bill providing for the coinage of five cent
nckels at New Orleans was referred.
The discussion Of the reconstruction bill was
resumed. Wood having the floor, characterized
TIE bill as q monstrosity, and the most Infamous
act of all the infamous acts of this Infamous Con-
gress.
Rose suggested that Wood modify his remarks
by saying so-caled infamous Congress.
The speaker decided Wood out Of order.
Wood refused to modify his remarks, and the
Honse, by party vote, refused to hear Wood
further.
Doves offered q resolution to censure, which
passed by party vote, and Wood approached the
bar of the House and was censured.
Discussion was wide. Butler gave notice Of an
amendment declaring all Offices vacant. authoriz-
ing the conventions TO fill them, and making it the
duty of district commanders to confirm and install
appointees of conventions. Adjourned.
SenGte.-The chair presented q memorial from
Mississippi, through the board Of registration
setting forth the general destitution OF the memo
rialsts. They say that If something is not done
soon the government must provide large burying
grounds.
Morton presented petition from four Thousand
negroes of the District of Columbia, asking en-
ployment on public works. stating that they were
excluded from cOmpeoton, and that whlte men
refused TO work with them.
A joint resolution providing for the payment Of
$40 600 TO Spain for the steamer seized by Gen.
sherman, at Port Royal, passed.
passed. with verbal amendment-Vote, - ID a
Amendment forbidding expansion failed.
Adorned.
The president has taken no steps in the Stanton
matter.
No business done at the war department during
the past two days.