The New York herald., 1869-01-19
WASnINGT0
Authority for tho Issue Of the
Amnesty Proclamation.
The Railroad Subsidy System Discounte-
nanced In the House.


Ben Bltln Demanding Information Abony the
'es'es National Banks.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1s, 1869. /,
Visit ef the virginia Delegation to General
ff+a9 ssg Grant.
the virginia committee called this morning In Q
body, accompanied by other gentlemen from their
State to pay their respects to General Grant The
conversation turned mainly upon the business OF
these gentlemen before Congress. The General, who
showed o familiarity with the provisions OF the Un-
derwood constitution, expressed himself In favor Of
speedy settlement the general plan published in
the papers OF the morning. The interview was OF
some Duration and was highly satisfactory to the
gentlemen of the committee. The delegation subse-
quently called upon the President and Secretary
Schoneld. While not asking to have their
own disabilities removed by special laws,
the committee are exerting themselves to
obtain general relief OF all persons in
the state OF Virginia, and especially to cheek the
further removal Of State and county officers now
gong on there until Congress act on the whole
subject. The Senate's Committee on the Judiciary
has under consideration the subject OF the restora
tion Of Virginia to the Union. but has not taken
formal action upon it.
Butler, the New Leader of the Honse.
Butler Is gradually becoming II he s not already,
the leader OF the House. To-day he was the most
conspicuous there and despite the national bank
interest," which is very large in the House, and the
Pacific Railroad interest, which is equally strong,
pushed through resolution Of inquiry antagonstic
to little arrangement which has provee beneficial
to both Of them. The Secretary OF the Treasury
was present during the whole discussion, and
was boldly told by the new leader Of the House that
,,coyfo o,H <ho TOR of
the "paid agents Of the national banks" The re-
porters understood Butler to say the treasurer,
but he meant to say the Secretary Of the Treasury
Mr. McCulloch seemed to meet the charge with good
humor and laughed heartily at it. Butler, however,
carried his point, as he generally does.
The Cuban Revolution.
Reliable information received here yesterday from
parties in Cuba in sympathy with the Revolutionary
party, gives very dinerent aspect to the present
condition Of AFFAIRS in the ever faithful isle. The
revolutionary party instead Of losing ground, is
said to be making steady progress, and the leaders
are more sanguine than ever Of eventual success.
Combinations reported to be IN progress calcua-
ted to give substantial support to the revoutonists
and stirring news may be looked for shortly
Ensiish Claims for Dcprcdations In the
South.
There are now here several British subjects, not
naturalized citizens OF she United States, In con-
sutation with eminent lawyers about The possi-
biity OF presenting certain claims OF theirs as an
onset to theSAlabama claims The claims OF these
parties are chiefly for payment Of property de-
stroyed by Shermans army IN ITS march to the sea,
and the aggregate amount Of those now In agitation
and Of those likely TO follow would more than equal
the amount Of damages alleged to be recoverable for
the depredations on our commerce committed by
rebel vessels
Jobbing Congrcssmen SquirminR.
good deal Of the time OF the Senate was con-
sumed to-day In an excited personal explanation by
Mr. Harlan about hts share in some extensive rail-
road Jobs out West The red hot shot that the inde
pendent press has pouring into the camp Of the
railroad rings has been doing severe damage all
around and has awakened so much Indignation
against the host OF spectators that have been
plundering with impunity the Estates OF
the nation that q member OF the House was
found bold enough 10 offer resolution
prohibiting any more grants Of land to any
railroads whatever. Western correspondent has
recently addressed himself to the task Of uncoverng
certain schemes In which thousands upon thousands
Of acres Of the public lands were granted to
railroads west Of the Mississippi by act OF
Congress on representations Of the most nag
rant character and to corporations that
never had an existence. The HERALD has been at
tending to these schemes also, and has already
pretty wen ventilated some OF the leading ones
Senators Harlan and Pomeroy were prominently
mentioned In connection with some OF these jobs,
and the former gentleman took occasion to-day to
make reply at great length, In which he reviewed
the structures upon his connection with certain
Iowa railroad, and took o ding at what
he denominated the scaveneers and Lazzaroni
Of the press. His language exceeded what his bet
ter sense might approve, without adding to the
strength Of his explanation. He made one state
ment that vItay needs correction to the eject that
the sale OF the Cherokee lands advertised In all
the leading newspapers OF the country; but 1t hap
pens that Secretary Browning in late report
to Congress states that only an unofficial
notice 6f the sale was ever made, and the
lands 10000 acres were afterwards disposed OF 20
mr. Joy at dollar per acre. against the protest
OF the Cherokee delegation. who asserted that one
dollar ana quarter had been already offered by an
emigration company. These explanations, after all,
are merely an indication that the speculators are
beginning to feel the efrects OF public criticsp aud
as republican paper like the Cincinnati Gazette has
been one OF the foremost in this onslaught upon the
corrupt members OF It's own party 1t furnishes proof
positive that the cohesive power OF public plum
der Is unable TO keep the party any longer intact
telegraph Mouopolisfs at Work.
william orton, President OF the western Union
IeegrhPn company, arIlVou to-uhy, anu Was busy
lobbying around the Capital against washburne's
Telegraph bill. There is TO be meeting OF the Com
mittee on Post Ofnces and Post Roads tomorrow;
when Mr.. Orton. with several members Of the lobby,
are expected to appear and make flnal appeal to
have washburne's bill laid upon the table or
strangled In some other way In committee. Their
great object h to prevent the bill from being re-
ported TO ths House, for It Is feared that once there
u might get through.
Proposed New Mode Of Subsidixing Rail-
roads.
The bill introduced In the House to-day By Repre-
sentative window. Of Minnesota, 10 aid in the con-
structIon Of the Northern Pacific Railroad from Lake
Superior to Puget sound changes entirely the princi-
ple- heretofore adopted m the grants Of subsidy
the Pacific railroads. n does not ask for any subsi.
dy, either I'm money or In governments lands, or In
any way add toehe public debt Instead Of requiring
the issue Of United States bonds heretofore for
a