New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-01-16

been named for the coming State Convention to NOM
in ate delegates to the National Convention. large
number of the members signed the petition Dut us
authors give out that they will not push the matter
as they wished to have the thing unanimous among
the members. The movement is looked upon here as
one against Gov. Fenton as Vice-President Oh inc
Republican ticket to be nominated at Chicago. Its
principals shout for Grant and Colfax. fentohs
friends saw that il is q movement of Thurlow Weed,
Rufus Andrews, and others. to have Colfax nonl-
mated with Grant, and then lay claim to HIM as the
man.
The crowd of visitors at the Executive Mansion
to-day very large, but few had an ihterVle" WIN
the President, his time being occupied Win members
of the Cabinet and other visitors Among those VINO
had an interview with him were Secretaries Seward,
Welles, Attorney General Stanbery, Gen. Grant,
Gen. Sherman, Senators DIXON ana BucKalew, anu
Collector Smytbe of New-York.
The whisky tax is still being debated. Two of the
largest whisky dstillers in the country and Revenue
Commissioner Wells were before the Committee to-
day, and gave their views the matter. They all
argued that the tax should be reduced, in order to
prevent fraud A draft of new bill has been pre-
pared and will be completed in few days. 1ndica-
tons are that the tax will be greatly reduced The
Committee do not look with favor on proposition
which has been submitted othem to give the high
est bidder the exclusive righttO manufacture whisky
The Committee will consider the various points for
the next week or so with view of adjusting proper
bill.
The Senate Judiciary Committee were in session
to-day but took action on the House bill requr-
ing the of opinion of twothirds OF the
Supreme Bench Judges to decide upon the Consttu-
tionality of any law that may be brought before
them.
The House Committee of Ways and Means had a
long session to-day, and had under discussion the
advisability of bringing new revenue bill in the
place of the one now pending. The general senti-
ment of the Committee was in favor of the PROPOSE
ton. but no definite action was taken upon it.
The Committee on Capital Expenses, of which Mr..
Covode is Chairman had Secretary Browning under
examination for three hours in regard TO building
the District Jail. 1t appeared from the evidence
taken to-day that the contract was not awarded to
the lowest bidder, but was given out by the piece
the entire cost not to exceed 100000. II also
shown that the plan for the building cost $4,000 and
that not more than 5000 have been expended so far
on the work
Col Bell, who was rejected few days ago by the
Senate for the position of Collector of Brownsville
was appointed, on the day following his rejection.
Special Agent of the Treasury Department which
office requires no confirmation by the Senate
journal is the evening organ of Mr. johnson, calls in
this evenings issue, meeting of all the National
Union johnson Clubs at a saloon in this city, on
Monday evening January 90 to take council together
i'm this eventful crisis of our country's peril.
In the Criminal Court here, to-day the District
Attorney directed the counsel of John H. Surratt to
appear and make an arrangement for the trial OF
Surratt 1t is expected that q time will DO fixed to-
morrow.
The Hon. II. D. Robertson of Westchester County
ex-State Senator was among the arrivals here TO-
night.
The Gettysburg Asylum lottery, which has been
denounced in Congress as swindle and fraud
will have lobby here tomorrow One of the chief
men of the concern teegraphs that he will be here
tomorrow, 10 try to stop the attacks made on the
scheme at this end of the line The professional lob
bysts are on the lookout for his arrival to aid and
suggest to him.
Gen. Pope was on the floor of the House today
where he cordially received.
ASSOCIATED PREss.
There was received at the headquarters Of the
army to-day copy of the letter addressed by Major
Gen. Hancock to the Governor Of Texas, who asks
for the reasons stat d. that military commission be
appointed to try three persons Tor the crime of muT
der Gen. Hancock, in reply, expressed the opinion
that the existing government of Texas Possesses
all the powers necessary FOR the proper aud
prompt trial Of the prisoners in question in
due course of law, and says it must be
matter Of profound regret to all who
value Constitutional government that there should
be occasion, in times Of civil commotion, when the
public good mperativey requires the intervention of
the military power for the repression OF disorders IN
the body polite and for the punishment of ohenses
against the existing laws of country, framed for
the preservation of social order But that the inter
vention Of this power should be called for or even
suggested by civil magistrates, when the laws are no
longer silent and civil magistrates are possessed in
their respective spheres of all the power necessary
to give effect the laws excites the surprise OF the
Commander of the Fifth Military District
Letters have been received at the Office of Internal
Revenue. dated Tullahoma, Tenn. January and II,
and from I. 0. Crawford Revenue Inspector, and
James Ramsey, Collector for the Third District of
that State giving information in regard to the dan
ger experienced by them in attending business to re-
Qarding illicit dstillation, and with particular allu-
sion TO a case which has but recently occurred In
that district, where party who was in arrears to
the Government for taxes due, to the amount OF
81 900 had resisted the Inspector and Collector, ma
king distrain upon him for the Indebtedness. 1t
appears that after the distrain had been accom-
plished and the Collector and Inspector had left the
PREMISES they were followed and attacked by the
party who had been distrained, accompanied
by others, and that the Inspector was shot and
wounded. Other Outrages were perpetrated III
does not appear from the correspondence,
that the offending parties have yet been
molested, either by military or civil process
letter from the Inspector dated the 18th inst re-
ports that since his being wounded several Illicit as
tilleries were in operation in the Third District OF
q Gtota Tpf atio has ala reached