New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-01-30
WASHINGTON.
RECONSTRUCTION IN THE sESATE-RIGHrs OF
AMERICAN CITIzENs-MPORTANT UNITED
STATES COURT DECIsIoN-RUFUs y. ANDREWS


The Senate was not so lively to-day as it has been
heretofore since the commencement Of the Recon-
struction debate. The morning hour was devoted to
unimportant miscellaneous business. bill for the
sale Of the iron-clads which has been some time
pending, was passed At O'clock the Reconstruction
debate being in order, Senator Pomeroy of Kansas
took the floor and delivered long aud ably prepared
speech in favor of the Congressional policy. He
followed by Senator Buckalew in speech on the
other side of the question. DR. Buckaews remarks
were listened to attentivey, and are considered the
abest exposition of the Democratic policy yet made
Among the Senators the floor to-day was Sauls-.
bury of Delaware who has been in his seat but once
before during the present session.
In the House to-day the proceedings were gener-
ally very dull Gen. Banks spoke briefly but effect.
lively upon his report regarding rights OF American
citizens abroad but no final action was taken on the
subject The remainder of the days session was
spent in speech-making on Julian's Southern Kali
road bill The House adjourned without taxing
vote on the bill.
The Senate Judiciary Committee passed upon some
very important measures to-day, but took no action
on the House bill requiring the concurrence IN opn-
ion of two-thirds of the Supreme Court Judges to
decide the consttutionaity of any law that may be
before them The Committee it is understood, will
the action of some Of the Southern States re-
constructing.
The Senate Committee on Patents are unanimously
opposed to the confirmation OF Mr. Bishop as Com
missioner of Patents. This is almost equivalent TO
rejection by the Senate.
No Executive Session was held to-day, and consa-
auenty no nominations were acted upon.
The Judicial and Legislative Appropriation bill was
finished in the House Committee on Appropriations
to-day Thirty-ye millions of dollars was asked Tor
this purpose The Committee allow $l7,Wo,OOO. The
Naval Appropriation bill has been cut down from
s2IOO0OOO to 100000. The Consular and Diplo-
matte bill il to be finally .acted upon tomorrow
This too has been cut down. The Committee VIII
bring the appropriations within $50 Co., the limit
prescribed by the resolution OF the Ways and Means
Committee. This shows that sweeping retrench-
ment is the order of the day.
Rufus +. Andrews the President OF ward Grant
club in New-York, has been hero the last two days
striving to induce Gen. Grant 20 attend tho ccebra-
ton of the fifth anniversary of the battle Of Fort
Donelson in New-York City on the 18th Of February.
Andrews first called upon johnson at public recep-
ton in the White House on Monday evening last.
and there told johnson publicly that he (Johnson)
was the only man living that stood by principle, and
in face of impeachment upheld the Constitution.
Grant declined to attend the proposed celebration,
and refused TO talk politics with Andrews Andrews
afterward extended an invitation to Biz. Washburne
to attend and ill Grants place, but he. too, did not
accept the invitation.
Certain political circles here are discussing Mr.
Stewards action relative 10 the Alta Villa case the
official papers in which were called for few days
ago. By resolution of Senator Sumner. Tho InteH-
geacer this morning defended Mr. Seward; but 1t is
asserted that the information called for WILL il fur
nished bring to light certain facts IL no way credit
able to the Secretary.
large delegation Of tobacco dealers and petroleum
manufacturers was before the Committee on Ways
and Means this morning. consulting upon their re-
spectiye interests The Committee viii receive the
brewers and distlers on Friday and hear what they
have To advance respecting whisky and taxation.
Mr.. washburne. Minister to Paraguay, has asked
to be relieved from that post and is on his way home
Office seekers are hocking TO the White House. each
anxious to serve their country as Sir. Washburne's
successor.
Gen Van Wyck received adgices to-day from Hir
risburg that the act Incorporating the Gettysburg
Asylum scheme would certainly be repealed by the
Legislature, and that the suit pending in the Su-
premc Court would be decided against them
A number of New-York Republican members OF
Congress will leave for their homes on Friday and
Saturday. They go to attend the Republican State
Convention to be held on the 9Th.
Mr.. Thornton. the new British :Mnister. arrived
here this morning and has taken rooms in the Ebbtt
House.
The case of Mr.. Brady photographers, of New York,
agt Gibson Of this city, involving 10000, was de-
cided here to-day in District Court in favor OF Mr.
Brady.
An important case is before the Supreme Court on
appeal from the United States Court. Maine. The
original suit was instituted on the following grounds
Early in the war the ship Golden Rocket was de-
stroyed by the pirate Semmes. and she was the first
vessel it is said, which went down under tho fire OF
the Alabama The owners sued certain insurance
companies in New-York on the plea that semmes
was pirate. The Maine Court held that Semmes
was tho agent Of Government recognized by the
United States as a belgerent, and the owners ap-
peal from thatIdecision to tho Supreme Court. The
decision in this looked forward to with much
interest, as it will decide many other similar i'm
portant suits.
The Secretary Of the Treasury has replied TO the
resolution of the House. showing that from lst day
June isS S PER cent p Snn hsd as
rate OF 80 cents on were surrendered and 81 10000
in 1910 s per cent bonds were depositep
the rate of IS cents on the dollar in lieu OF the FIVE
Twenty bonds surrendered. During the same period
1906 800 in Ten Forty five per cent bonds held as
security for the circulation OF National Banks at the
rate of ~ cents the dollar were surrendered, and
in lieu thereof s. 40 200 in FveTwenty six per cent
bonds of 1881 were deposited with the Treasurer as
such security, at the rate of 80 cents on the dollar
The sale of Ten Forty bonds under the act of 1864
s. 900, and the premium s0j 29S, making total
of IS 2i6SOS The First National Bank of Washington
was paid q commission of ghth of one per cent
amounting to $l01T. The Secretary of the Treasury
says that the sale of these bonds has not tended to
withdraw the currency from the business of the
country and that the operations of the Treasury De-
partment for some months past have been such to
diminish rather than to increase the currency in the
Treasury.
Gen. Howard of the Freedmen's Bureau has re-
ceived report from Brevet MaorGcn W. Y. Carlin
of Tennessee announcing that he had made tour