Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-02-17

IHE SONTENTs DOA.-by REFER
ence to our report of proceedings in the House
of Representatives to-day, it will be seen that
Mr.. ONeilI of Pennsylvania introduced a
resoluti IN instructing the Treasurer of the
United States to open certain wooden box
which has been in the vaults of the Treasury
Department for many years, and make known
the contents thereof to the House The box al
luded to is a small wooden one, twelve inches
square. II was deposited in the vault of the
Treasury about twenty five years ago, where it
remains unopened, and contains a large nugget
Of gold. In 1872 or 1913, a lot of valuable lew-
els, gold snuff boxes, gold sword scabbards, and
other valuable articles were stolen from a case
in nthePatentOfice building, where they had been
deposited by the Government and various off,
ciaIs who had received them as presents from
foreign nations. They had beenpiaced in the mu-
scum at the Patent Office, our laws forbidding
any officers Of the Government receiving pres
ents from foreign powers. The man who
robbed the case was captured and a portion of
the Jewels recovered. The gold had all been
me ted, but was recovered. in bulk. A short
time since one of the heirs of a Mr.. Harris, who
received the snuf-box from the Emperor OF
Russis, made claim for it, hence the matter has
been brought before Congress.
GEN. SHERNAN.-It is stated to-day, upon
good authority, that General Sherman has writ
ten letter TO President johnson, in which he
sets forth very fully his reasons for having ad-
vlsed his brother (Senator Sherman) to have
the Senate not take any cognizance of his ap-
pointment OF Brevet General. This letter also.
in cou teous but decided terms, declines to &C.
cept the command of the new Department of the
Atlantic, created by the President, under any
circumstances whatever, and intImates that he
considers this action as calculated TO get him
mixed up in the political questions of the day
and therefore, with this view, he cannot do 9TH
erwlse than decline to accept the command.
Senator Sherman says the General will not ac-
cept either the brevet appointment or the COM
mand of the new department; and if the Presi-
dent declines to relieve him from the latter, he
Will promptly tender his resignation.
TAXATION OF NOTES.-THE. Lawrence to-day
intrOd uced the following Joint resolution which
was referred TO Ways and Means Committee:
Resotred, That the act Of June 81, 1s64, entitled
San act to provide Ways and Means for the
support of the Government and for other pur-
poses" shall not be so construed as to except
from taxation by or under State or municipal
authority any amOuntiof United States notes not
bearing interest held by any person as money.
ALASKA WANTS A CIVIL GOVERNMENT
Among the memorials presented in the Senate
to-day was one by Gov Yates, from the Mayor
and Councils of Sitka. Alaska Territory, ask
ing for the establishment of n civil government
in that country. The petition states that by
establishing such government emigration
will commence. and parties will be stimulated
to enter upon business enterprises of different
kinds.
GEN. ]. b. STKEDMAN has resigned the col.
lectorship of internal revenue in New Orleans
TO take effect May Is.
JURISDICTION OF CoURTs.-Mr. TrumbuIl
introduced in the Senate to-day ga bill TO de-
fine the jurisdiction of the courts of the United
States in certain cases." 1t provides that all
courts of the United States shall be bound bv
acts OF Congress on political questions, and that
II rests with Congress to determine what gov
eminent is the established one i'm any State,
and ii is declared that no civil State govern
ments exist in the excluded States of the South.
ana no so-called civil State governments in
said States shall be recognized by either the ex-
ecutlVe on judicial power OF the United States
until Congress shall so provide, or until
such State Is represented in the Congress
of the United States. The reconstruction
acts are declared political in their char
aeter, the propriety or validity of which
no Judlclal tribunal is competent to question:
and the Supreme Court of The Uoted States is
hereby prohibited from taking jurisdiction of
any case growing out of the execution of said
acts ia either of said States, until such STATE
shall be represented In the Congress of the Uni
ted States, or Congress shall recognize such
State government as valid and republican in
form; and all snch cases now pending in said
Court snail be dismissed. All acts parts of
acts authonZlng an appeal, writ of error, hdbeas
corpus; or other proceeding to bring before
saIa said supreme Court for, review any
proceeding arising out of the exeeution of said
act, ''to provide for the more eff ficient govern
ment OF the rebel States," and of the acts sup
appeal in any case from the Judgment of the
Circuit Court Of the United States in hobeas
corpus proceeding TO the Supreme Court, or
which authorize the Supreme Court to issue a
writ of habeds corpus or other writ to bring be-
fore II for review any judgment of Circuit OF
any other court in habeds corpus case or pro-
ceedtnR, De and the same hereby repealed
The bill was read twice and referred to the Ju.
dietary Committee.
NoMINATED.-Among the nominations sent
in TO the Senate on Friday was that of w. Gill
more SImms, the southern novelist, to be Uni
ted States Marshal for the District of South
Carolina. Opposition is made to the nomina-
ton upon the ground that Mr.. Simms took AN
active part in the rebellion, and it is doubtful
II he will be confirmed.
THE DISTRICT IN CoNGREss-Mr. Pike in
troduced in the House to-day bill (Which was
referred to District Committee) TO incorporate
the washington and Norfolk Mail Steamboat
Company, with s. V. Boyd, w. III. Mower
Charles Spear, w. II. Tenney, VIM. L. Wall
Mm. II. Philip, John r. Elvans and w. H.
fio"mah corporators; capital not less than
SiCeCCO. or more than S5OO,O0.
MT. Nelker introduced in the House to-day
Dill (Which was referred 10 Judiciary Com
mlttee) ITO provide for luries in certain cases.
~ is the same bill heretofore introduced by Mr..
Welker, and provides that in criminal cases in
this District, upon satisfactory showing that
an impartial lury 10 try case cannot be OBJ
tanned IN the District of Columbia. the court is
authorized 10 Issue a special venire facias for
such number OF disinterested men as may be
deemed necessary.
ABUSE OF THE FRAMING PRIvILEGE.-In the
Senate to-day Mr.. Ramsey introduced bill TO
prevent the abuse of the franklng privilege
which provides that il shall not be lawful for
any officer OF the Government or other person
entitled by law to the franking privilege TO ex-
ercise said privileges otherwise than by his or
her written autograph signature upon the mat.
ter franked. II also provides that the heads
OF each Executive Depasrment of the Govern
ment al Washington shall have power TO an
point one or more fraDking clerks The same
power is also extended 10 the President of the
Senate and Speaker of the House Of Represent
atiyes.
INTERNAL REvENUE.-The receipts from the
source to-day, were, $e30,is1.22.
O~O
Az Tor ORRD (yfrrvuN ~ No.