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

Ndle ihlofnsatlon lately received Oy Mr. Bur
hngame's friends at Boston, it appears that his
new position, for which he gave up the place
Of American Minister to China, rs that of sort
of general ambas sador extraordinary from the
Chinese government to the rest OF the world
to proceed wherever directed. His salary is to
be $4,000 in gold, with all his expenses paid.
His retinue is TO consist of two secretaries and
two Interpreters, of high rank, and a large
force OF servants, etc, the expenses of whom
are also to be borne by the government. The
proposition was to confer the Office upon Mr..
Burlingame for life, but this effer he declined
whereupon a commission for an indefinite time
was given to him, with powers, duty, salary,
etc, as above.
II is stated, further, that before accepting his
new trust, Mr.. B. put his Official house in good
order, placed its affairs in proper shape in the
hands of Mr.. Williams, the Secretary OF Lega-
ton, and forwarded his resignation in regular
form to the Department
BY the telegram from San Francisco, pub
lished in to-day's STAR, it will be seen that a
different version of the affair is given, and that
Mr. Burlingame's is said to have been appoint
ed minister TO this country with a salary of
$lo,C in gold.
ADMIRAL BELL, LIEUT.. COMMANDER REED,
AND EIGHT SEAMEN DROwNED.-The Atlantic
cable brings the news of the death of Rear Ad-
miral Henry III. Bell, United States navy, COM
manding the Asiatic squadron, who was
drowned at the mouth Of the Osaka river ia.
pan, on the i1th of January. The mouth of the
river had been closed by a frightful gale. The
Admiral had been waiting several days to cross,
and nnally started, accompanied by flag Lirut
Commander Reed and thirteen men from the
Hartford, TO go to OSAKA, but while crossing the
bar the boat capsiZed, drowning all but three
QrnAa n1
buried near the mouth Of the Osaka river
Admiral Bell was native Of North Caro-
INA, and entered the navy as midshipman on
the 4th of August, 1923. He has had % wears
and month sea service, IL months coast sur
Ney duty, years and II months shore duty, IL
years and months unemployed, making his
total service A years and months. During the
years ISIS and - he was ih the Grampus en-
gagged in operations against the pirates on the
coast of Cuba. In 1887, during the Seminole
war, he garrisoned Fort Clinch for six months
win party OF sailors and marines. In No.
vember, 1c56, he participated in the attack, cap.
ture and destruction of the Barrier forts near
Canton, China. During the rebellion, he was
engaged IN the passage of the forts and capture
of New Orleans, and the passage of the Vicks-
burg batteries, under Admiral Farragut He
has been in command of the Asiatic squadron
since July, 1865. and short time since the Sec
retary of the Navy directed Rear Admiral s
Y Rowan 10 the relief of Admiral Bell on
March 1st- Admiral Rowan sailed for the
squadron early in December last TO relieve Ad-
United States early in March.
Lieut. Commander ]. II. Reed was native
OF Michigan. and entered the service on the 2sth
of September, 1870 During the rebellion he
was at the passage of Forts Jackson and ST
Phllip and the Chalmette batteries. and ran the
batteries at icksburg twice. He was also i'm
the engagement with the rebel ram Arkansas.
the selge OF Port Hudson. Ran the batteries al
Grand Gulf twice and was on the iron clads
curing their operations off Charleston and
Stone river.
Both OF the above-named officers were much
esteemed by all who knew them.
ABOLITION OF THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT
In the Senate to-day Mr.. Sumner presented the
memorial of citizens of Roxbury and Boston,
Massachusetts, (Which WAS referred to the Ju-
dlclary CommIttee,) praying the abolition of
the Office of President of the United States
After setting forth that the Office of President is
n aconstantly -menacing, constantly giving cause
OF Danger TO the Republic. whose eventual ruin
II must inevitably occasion, and advocating its
abolition as the only means of arresting the
wide stream Of corruption which, il is alleged
now mum dates the party system, and of re-
forming the character Of the latter, the memo
rialsts say:
Ito avoid these dangers they suggest that
Congress propose an amendment to the Con-
stitution, abolishing the Presidency and trans
ferTing the executive functions to an admins.
trative commission or Congressional ministry
TO be chosen by Congress from their own body,
or from among other competent citizens and
10 be supervised anC instructed during the ad.
Journment of Congress, by a standing commit.
tee who are TO be in permanent session during
that time and who are to be authorized to cali
extra sessions Of Congress when needed. That
the people, however, may not lack means Of
exercising continual control over their repre.
sentatives, the electors should be empowered to
recall these and replace them by others at anv
time when they may be found false to their
trust
RKcoNsrRUcrIoN.-In the Senate to-day,
Senator Trumbull reported back from the Ju.
diciaryC Committee the House reconstruction bill
passed in the early part of December last de-
claring that majority Of actual voters in the
southern States shall be suff cient to adopt new
constitutions, with a recommendation that all
after the enacting clause shall be stricken out
and the following inserted
THAT hereafter any election authorized by
the Act passed March 23d, 1861 entitled sAn
act supplementary to an act to provide for the
more efficient government Of the rebel States
passed March I'd, 1857. and TO facilitate restora.
uon,' shall be decided by majority of the votes
actually cast; and at the election in which the
question of the adoption or rejection of any
constitu ion is submitted, any person duly reg
lstered may vote In any part of the State In
which n. shall have been registered, where he
may resi- de at the time Of such election, upon
presentation of his certificate Of registration.
under such regulations the District com.
manders may prescribe" :"
THE HOUSE promptly. to-day, by a vote of
30 10 30, refused to allow Young and Smith the
parties who contested the seat from I'd Ken.
lucky district, the sum of $500 each for ex.
penses'incurred in contesting for seat from that
district.
ALAEAMA.--Judge Bingham introduced in
the House to-day resolution. recIting that as
a majority of the actual voters in Alabama had
voted for the adoption of the new constitution,
that the Legislature Of that State be con yened
as soon as possible by order of the military
commander of that district, and that as soon as
"said Legislature shall adopt the fourteenth
amendment to the Constitution, and prov ide
for impartial suffrage, that said State shall be
entitled 10 representation in Congress" Re-
ferred 10 Reconstruction Committee.
PATENTS TO BE IssUED.-For the week end.
ing on Tuesday. February 25th, 296 Patents
will be issued from the Patent Office During
the past week SO applications and 81 caveats
were filed.
THE MCARDLE CAsE.-In the Supreme
Court this morning. Chief Justice Chase de-
lvered an opinion In the McArdle case, on the
motion Of Senator Trumbun to dismiss it for
want Of jurisdiction. The opinion is quite
elaborate, and quotes at length legal authorities
bearing on the case. 1t states that there is am.
pie law TO take hold Of the case and on this
ground the Court declines 10 allow the motion