The New York herald., 1869-02-03

that indulgence counterbalanced by continued
despatch from MI. E seward 70 s MT. johnson. Sep.
temper rs, 1868, says.I earnestly hope, not only
that Warren and Costello may soon be released -
lzatlon question may be settled before the new
session OF Congress IN December ! think hardly
gwen Why It is desirable that the administrator Of
this government which Is to come In here on the
4th ol March, and the reconstructed administration
ol Great Britain, which is supposed to be near at
hand shall lind themselves relieved OF all the inter-
national questions which, although they are not In
tflnslcaily difcu have nevertheless SO long and SO
painfully embarrassed both nati0ns.n
Mr.. COSTELLO TO MINISTER JOHNSON.
OCTOBER 10, 1863
To Hon. REvERDY JOHNSON, United states Minister,
SIR-l presume may be allowed to make few
inquiries which deem Important for me TO know,
received any instructions in my case and II so what
those Instructions are. SecOndly-I would ask II
what strange ifYl would ask 4 am an American
the United States government has taken any action
in my case and what the likelihoods are OF an
70 month or two. only wish to know the "there-
abouls.n am long time waiting, and am only ap-
prehensiye that the beginning Of the end has not
come. In the worst phases OF life the inevitable ID
more endurable than suspense. Judging from the
present as well as the past, my future is not very
transpIring in the outside world which, II known 70
me, might make me think differently presume
you are aware, sir, that am allowed to know abso-
permitted to write letter TO my friends once in six
months. thought 1t would not be q bad idea TO
g you a a1d ss wa
thought TO have written special letter, SO as
not to interfere. with my domestic letters,
but the director, for some reasons well known to
himself, denied that privilege 1t may be. in the
whrl OF more grave and important events, that the
United States government has failed to meet the
issue raised III my case, as have been conjectur
ing the republic may not wish TO disturb the AMIGA
BILE relations existing with the mother country; or
again. with Know Nothingism may be- as formerly,
In the ascendancy and hence the startling anomaly
OF one.third OF theAmercan population proved to be-
according to the letter and the spirit OF English law
Brrs.sh subjects Truly. we may exclaim with Joab,
"Was ever time IN wonders richers" II am
to be condemned TO penal servitude Tor
enjoying hbertys first born, freedom OF speech;
II words or even acts Of mine while in the United
States can make me amenable to British law, then
boldly assert that liberty is not to be found beneath
the stars and Stripes, and brand that act OF the
legislature that conferred on me all the RESPONSE
bilities but none OF the advantages OF an American
citizen an insult and m0ckery. But let II
be known To whom 1t may concern that, de-
grading and miserable as my present position
Is envy @ not ne @ s q my @ e1@ @
political ladder than the negro under the old regime
am not very pleasantly situated for letter writing
neither am sure that this letter VIII reach you.
should like 10 give you some idea OF prison d1Scll
pine, but that Is an interdicted subject, and no
wonder. would request that copy, or, what is
better the original OF this letter. be sent to The Presi
dent.
Hoping to receive prompt and explicit reply
AUG ELLIC0TT COSTELLO.
Progress of the Tax Bill.
The House, in Committee OF the Whole, made con-
siderable progress with the Tax bin tonight. Com
mencng at the 12lst section, where they left Off
last session, they reached the 139th section, where
the bill commences to deal with the tax distilled
spirits and tobacco. At this point General Schenck
moved to strike out all relating to these subjects in
the bill, and offered as substitute therefor the bill
to impose tax distilled spirits and tobacco passed
at the last session, which is the law now In force.
This brought the committee down to the 253d
section OF the BILL leaving only thirtysix sections to
be considered These relate to the income tax, the
tax legaces and distrlbutive shares OF personal
property and the tax succession to real estate.
After General Schenck offered his amendment the
committee adjourned, in order to allow 1t to be
printed before considering it, 1t is not expected that
any material changes will be made in the bill as
respects whiskey and tobacco from the present law
covering those articles The present tax on whiskey
has worked so well that the Ways and Means Commit
tee opposed to any changes either for decrease
an advance and 1t is not thought that any consde
rable number Of members OF the House Will support
such a Change should one be proposed. There are
however, some detects in the machinery OF the pres
ent law, which have been developed by experience
since 1t went into operation An effort will be made
to remedy these by amendment, and this may give
rise discussion and consequent delay. 1t is
the opinion OF members OF the Ways and Means
Committee that two or three more evenings work
will complete the bill in Committee OF the Whole.
should the House concur in the committees amend
ments, which Is most probable, there is no reason
why the bill may not be passed and sent to the
Senate next week. It is questionable, however, how
long that body will delay action on it.
The Irrcpressibie African Again Before the
Senate.
When Senator Sumner ceases 10 talk OF slavery
and the slave trade 1t win only be when the King OF
Congo issues an emancipation proclamation and ex-
tends universal suffrage to his dusky subjects. The
proposition before the Senate yesterday and to-day
TO strike out the appropriation giving $4,000
year to three commissioners who were appointed
some seven years ago to adjudicae in OF cap
ture arising out OF the African slave trade. The mo
tion to strike out was made by Senator Pat
tcrson, OF New Hampshire, whom one
ever thought OF charging with pro-slavery
instincts. But senator Sumner assumed TO be hor.
ror stricken at the idea OF abatng the pledge OF
pense to which the government Is put one cent in
the holy warfare against imaginary kidnappers OF
the innocent African on the coast of Guinea and
Senegambia ard fell foul OF senator Patterson,
comparing him to sldell for venturing TO suggest
services never performed. II seems this country
has already paid 900 to three commissioners one
OF whom is supposed to reside in Cape Town. another
in Sierra Leone and the third in New York, and
none of whom was ever known to have solitary
case brought within hundred miles Of his jursdlc-
tion. The Senator from Massachusetts wanted the
appropriation continued Indefinitely and this snug
little paid to three gentlemen VINO were no
doubt sensible enough TO take the money and spend
II pleasantly in London or Paris. II was finally
agreed to continue the appropriation and pay the
money on condition that the trio OF hitherto blessed
commissioners remained at their posts and did the
business FOR which they are paid.
The Inauguruti tion BalI-Perplcx of the
Committee.
The original Inauguration Ball Committee are stii
diligently at work endeavoring to perfect plan on
which the rtte can be successfully carried through
The privilege OF using the Treasury building for the
purpose has been given by the proper authorl-
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