The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-03-06
WASHINGTON.
Facts and RunOrn.
CONGRESS-.

CONGRESS-.
The closing proceedings of the present con.
gress have been, IA usual on such occasions :.
tumultusus, that it is hard to gather what h..
been passed and what not. All the appronr;..
ton bills except the Indian bill, however. wer.
passed The constitutional amendment to foro.
universal negro suffrage ON all the states, was
passed Schencks gold bill, so called. was slso
passed, but really amounts to nothing. II
pledges the government to the payment of the
public debt in coin, except where it is made nav.
able in currency, aud lsgalises gold contraCt..
is covered by the recent decision of the Supreme
Court
GEN. GRANT STEAKS.
Gen. Grant has been making quite a number
Of little speeches during the week, most of which
wers In response 20 imper tinences about his cab.
met. Mr. Mcclure, from Pennsylvania, whe
insisted on his giving Gov. Curtin place in the
cabinet was set down with the remark that hs
Gen g. didn't soc what the politicians Of Penn.
sylvania had TO do with m.king up his cabinet.
In reference TO the proposed rs-expulsou Of
Georgia from the union, he made such a pointed
speech to Mr.. Boutwell, the chairman of the 70.
construction committee, that that business was
incontinently dropped. He took the pains to 70
70 the house and hunt Mr. Boutwell, UP, and il
said to have told him, II opposed to congress
touching tho state Of Georgia think the PEG.
pie ought to refer the matter to the courts and
abide their decision which is exactly what
Georgia asks the privilege Of doing. Gen. Grant
is also reported as having made quite a startling
speech about Cuba, advising the radicals in con-
gress to 'let reconstruction alone. These minor
perple1ities will soon be swallowed up by more
important events, growing out OF the recogni-
ton of Cuban independence. and that contest
over, then the Alabama claims'
FAREWELL ADDRESSES
Speaker Colfax resigned and took leave of the
house in pathetic farewell address on Welnes-
day morning, and Mr. Pomeroy was elecred in
his place. President johnson has also issued 4
farewell address, explaining and indeed moot
ably defending the leading acts OF his admins
tration. The cabinet also had final meeting on
Wednesday, and all its members handed to the
president their resignation, and babe him an
official farewell.
..tHE GEN. SHERMAN.
Gen. Gran. has signified his intention to send
in his appointment Of Gen Sherman as General
OK the Army. on the 9th, with the names Of tie
new cabinet. Meantime the friends of Gen. s.
have bought and presented to him tho house
lately occupied in Washington by Gen. Grant,
together with seine 100000 to furnish it with
the Whole amounting to $G5, 900.
NEW CONGRESS r.tw
The new congress met, pursuant to the Law
passed two years ago. ON the 9Th al Msroh.
The republicans have agreed on Blaine, Of
Maine, for speaker The democratic nembsrso Of
the now congress a'so held caucus, and agreed
to cast their vote for Kerr, sf Indiana. By the
rassally manner in which the clerk Of the house
has made mp the roll Of the new congress. but
about 65 OF the 30 democratic members will b
admitted to their seats At the organization, TIE
roll having been so dsotored that radical ma
jority Of two-thirds is retained in tho house.
THE INAUGURATION.
The usual crowds are gathering into Washing.
ton to witness the inauguration ceremonies A.
early "a Wednesday. correspondent says, 1.-The
attendance Of visitors is ten fold greater than On
any previous occasion. since the beginning Of the
war, at least