Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-01-13
Washington City Gossip.

II each: by grants or puDllc lands Better
divide our domain among Union soldiers by
equalizing bounties, and prevent this Con-
gressioual squabble for Uncle Sam acres.
John Minor Bolts died at Culpepper on
Friday, the Sth of January.
Hon. David A. Wells, Special Commis-
sioner of Internal Revenue, has sent a report
to Congress which covers very important
statements based upon thorough and exten-
its restoration to soundness, Mr.. Wells has
nothing new to suggest His discussion Of
the revenues admitted only an Incidental ref
erence to this subject, and it is evident that
he has not given it that profound and inde-
pendent study on which his discussions of
matters more peculiarly within his province
are founded He re affrms, in substance.
the known views of the Secretary of the
Treasury on contraction, and thinks that by
funding the greenbacks and buying up bonds
every year with the surplus revenues, the
Treasury can rapidly return to specie pay
ments The rest of the report is devoted to
an argument favoring the breaking down of
our present tariff and indirectly advocating
free trade, to which principle Mr.. Wells
seems to be entirely committed.
Another of the stern and steadfast Re-
publican Senators has been rewarded by a
grateful and generous constituency. The
Hon. VIM. NJ. Stewart, United States SEN
ator from Nevada, has been unanimously
renominated by the Legislature of his State,
and will, of course, be triumphantly elected.
The effort tending to the building of sew
eral new railroads to radiate from the city of
Washington is likely to prove successful.
Senators and members of Congress from the
Eastern, Middle and Western States nearly
all appear to favor the plan of more gen.
eral free system of railroad building from
the national capital.
Major General l.. H. Rousseau, eomman-
der of the Fifth Military District, died at
New Orleans on Friday night, January 7th,
of congestion of the bowels, after three
days illness,
A large number of Episcopal clergymen
have memoraiized Congress for the passage
of law prohibiting the carrying of petro-
leum on conveyances for the transportation
of passengers. The interest of this class of
persons is presumed to arise from the facts
that the Rev. r. j. Parsin, of that denom-
ination. was lost by the recent catastrophe
of the steamers "America" and Omitted
States" The subject equally concerns the
whole community, and we hope Congress will
show disposition to act as promptly in this
respect as for subsidies.
The most eminent lawyers in Washington
concur in the opinion that the recent Am
nesty proclamation has no legal effect what
ever. The legislative branch is the only
power that can properly grant such amnesty.
Poor Andy seems ito put his foot deeper in
the mire" every step he takes, for even some
of his Democratic friends do not concur in
his right to issue such proclamation.
The monthly statement of the public debt
shows small increase for December, owing
to the issue of bonds to the Pacific rail-
roads which do not properly belong in the
exhibit
The leading journals and politicians in
Virginia, of the ex rebel type, exhibit a re-
markable unaninity in eonceding that negro
suffrage is inevitable.
The Democratic members of Congress have
sent petition to President johnson, asking
him to pardon the assassin Mudd, who is
confined on the Dry Tortugus. This action
is only in keeping with the sympathisers in
the murder of President Lincoln.
The agricultural report for 1867 is in a
single volume of 532 large octave pages,
handsomely embellished with numerous en-
cravings on wood. 224, 500 copies are order
ed to be printed; 10000 for distribution by
Senators; 10000 by Representatives, and
| 23, 900 by the Commissioner Of Agriculture.
| 20, 600 copies of the Mechanical Report, have
also been ordered The books viii not be
ready for distribution before the expiration
of the present session of Congress.
! Vice President Wade has received the Of
fetal Presidential vote of all the States by
mail, although only half of the messengers
appointed to bring the votes cast have ar
rived. Should the messengers fail to arrive
by the third Wednesday in February, the
votes will be counted as received by mail.
The Grand Jury Of the District have dis
missed the case against Surratt on the ground
that the President late amnesty PROCLAIM
ton pardons him for all past reasonable
offences against the government.
4 rumor Is current in Indiana that the