The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-01-06

TO amend the present constitution to suit themselves
and then submit 1t TO the people, BY whom no votes
snail be cast but such as are designated In the
amended instrument providing, however, says this
ingeniously constructed document, that no one
shall be prohibited from voting account Of
color. This arrangement would bring more una-
loyed rapture to the hearts OF the carpet bag fra
ternity and their coored supporters than the cons-
cation scheme OF the iamented Tnaddeus Stevens.
Cause az the Late Troubles In Georgia.
Senator Pomeroy to-day received q letter from
Georgia In which it Is stated that the recent troubles
the Ogeechee river caused by the refusal OF
planters to share the crops equitably among the
negroes, which they claimed pursuant to last years.
contract. Similar difficulties occurred Is to the
previous crops. The negroes this time declared the
crops should not be removed till they had their just
share. General Saxton, with two companies Of
soldiers went to the OF conflict arrested the
ringleaders and divided the crops according to
contract
Petition from Colored Georgians.
petition OF 500 colored citizens OF a county In
Georgia was received by the senate to-day, COM
planning OF the present form OF government as not
being sufficiently loyal and that more than pru-
dent number OF rebels allowed the privilege Of
voting. 1t called for the reinstatement OF the
colored members elected by the Legislature and the
restriction Of the suffrage to loyal men. Out OF the
500 names attached only dozen or SO were able to
write their own; the rest were inscribed by one
hand, with cross mark after each. Petitions OF this
character are very numerous, and should be taken
Gun, grGno sniis
Sudden Collapse Of the Colorcd Rcprescnta-
tive.
Menard, the colored Representative from Louisi-
ana, VINO came here to take seat In Congress and
did not, has gone home in disgust 1t is said here
chat 10.
Freedmen's Bureau fund to carry him to louisiana.
The Alaska Bribery investigation.
The Committee on Public Expenditures, to whom
is entrusted the investigation OF the alleged bribery
in the Alaska purchase, failed to hold meeting to-
day. owing to the absence Of the chairman, Calvin
I. HuIburd.
Pertinent Inquiry-Sales OF Gold by the
Treasurer Since 1858.
With view to ascertaning some OF the mysteries
Of the sales Of gold by the government through its
agents in New York, since 1863 when the govern
ment first became seller, Mr.. Morrell, Of Pennsyl-
wanna, has prepared the following resolution which
he will offer In the House at the first opportunity
Resolved, That the Secretary Of the Treasury be
statement showing the aggregate amount OF gold
coin sold by the government since January l, 1853 III
rates ana amount Of premium realized. the commits
sions and expenses attending the same ana to whom
expenses and commissions were charged ana to
what account the premiums were credited.
In all reports made by the Secretary Of the Trea-
sury heretofore 1t has been found impossible
tain the information called for in the above resou
ton. The accounts Of gold sales have always been
mixed with other accounts 30 that nobody was able
to tell anything about them.
The Consular Appropriation Bill.
The Consular and Diplomatic Appropriation bill,
CT IoQD oA for II
poses being $4,000 less than the appropriation or
last year. Among the items are the following
For salaries OF ENJOYS extraordnalre ministers and
commissioners to the great Powers, $4,000; for
salaries OF Secretaries OF legation $40 $780, for con-
tingent expenses OF missions abroad and foreign In
tercourse $780, 900; for expenses OF consulates In
Turkish dominions 81 Oo for protection OF American
seamen abroad, $4,000; miscellaneous expenses OF
consuls $4,000; for expenses under the Neutrality
act. 10000 clause Is inserted In the bill making
it punishable ofYence for consuls to demand for
certificates OF invoices fees greater than allowed
by law.
The Russian Mission.
smythe's nomination for the Russian mission has
not yet come mp. 1t Is said that he VIII have more
votes than necessary for o confirmation.
The Patent Once Stationery Frnuds.
For some time past there have been number Of
conflicting reports anoat about the stationery
contracts OF the Interior Department. Charges
OF fraud among the contractors, Of eousion
among onicias and complaints OF general
dissatisfaction all around were freely circu-
lated. In the HERALD Of Monday q detailed
statement was published giving the results attend
ing the exploration OF the House Printing Committee
into the stationery contracts Of the Interior Depart
ment Their report places the Commissioner OF
Patents In the light OF one with disposition very
apd the exact fullment OF contracts. The contract
ors are represented a. being decidedly inclined to
make sharp and profitable bargains. Now another
report appears from . board OF examiners, CON-
posed OF three gentlemen, one selected BY
the Commissioner OF Patents, one by the Secretary
Of the Interior and the other suggested by the
tractors themselves After due investigation they
come to the conclusion that mo evidence OF any
fraud or collision was given or taken before that
would implicate the contractors. The articles fur
nished were such as specified In the contracts
and schedules attached ana at the prices specified
They proceeded to state that the purchases may be
considered matter Of contract, particularly when
the payment OF the bills rendered are by means or
q rcquisition upon the Treasury signed by the
Commissioner OF Patents and the Secretary OF the
Interior Further they state that no doubt exists
bus that the Commissioner Of Patents contracted for
cents per sheet, making the whole cost s4s,ooo Tho
once received soaio sheets, the rest was rendered
but refused, and IL subject 70 delivery upon
the adjustments OF accounts. But It seems
there was prior contract for $1,000 sheets
Of bond paper. Eleven thousand OF these
were received by the once, but the contractors
obtained payment for % 600 In explaining this ac-
count the board Of examiners say that the contrac-
tors had 5000 sheets Of another kind Of paper 10
deliver. portion Of which would be an Offset to the
amount overdrawn. Tney conclude however, by
stating that II the firm DO not furnish the 1900
sheets charged for and not delivered that the
amount should be deducted from their account.
Other matters which refer TO the interests OF the
Patent once win form the subject OF another report
by the board OF examiners.
Mere Schemes Of PubIic Piunder.
The usual social Fluctuations were exchanged by
Senators this morning on meeting once more for
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