New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-03-20
WASHINGTON.
SECRETARY BOUTWELL, DEFINES HIS Posi-
TION ON THE FINANCE QUESTION.

bEChElAh1 BOUTWELL, DEt1NEO HIS IOol-
TIoN ON THE FINANCE QUESTION.
TIE SURPLUS BONDS OF THE TREASURY TO BE
USED FOR THE CANCELLATION OF UNITED
STATES BoNDs-No MORE SECRET SALES
OF GoLD-THE TENURE OF OFFICE QUESTION
NOT YET DECIDED-oNLY ONE NOMINATION
MADE YEsTERDAY-EQUAL RIGHTS IN THE
. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO TRrBUyB1
WASHINGTON, Friday, March 10, 1862
The Ways and Means Committee to-day paid an
official visit to the Secretary of the Treasury and
President Grant. After the usual courtesies had
been exchanged, Secretary Boutwell, informed 'he
Committee that from a casual determination OF INC
Department he had found affairs generally IN
pretty good condition. He did not think he would
require any additional financial legislation at pres
ent. There was an abundance Of money, and ne IN
dieated his determination not 10 keep large amount 0"
hand and that he icoHd The splustrom tine to tine
for he purchase and cancellation Of bonds claiming Mt
the same time that there ample authority IN his
Judgment in the existing legislation to make such
purchase and cancellation he stated also that he ods
opposed to The secret sales Of god and that whenever
he had any for SALE it would be sold in open market
giving to everybody the opportunities of buy
ing. The Committee expressed themselves as greatly
pleased with the frank and businesslike manner in
which he purposes to conduct the affairs of the De
partment It is evident that the Wall-st cllques
and stock-jobbing spectators will not manipulate
the Treasury as has been the practice heretofore.
The great matter of interest here just now is
conferred in the pending question of the fate of the
Civil Tenureof Office act in the Senate The Presi-
dent is determined to make appointments except
ing where vacancies exist until the measure is dis
posed Of That appears to be his Interpretation OF
the law. The Office seekers say so, and they must
know. And further, these men, now that nothing is
being done at the White House, swarm around the
Senate chamber urging the repeal of the act. They
care nothing for the principles involved. but ciamor
for repeal. that the appointments 10 Office may
begin. 1t is astonishing that this tremendous
outside pressure has not had more effect on
the Senate. It was expected that vote
would have been reached to-day, but the desire to
talk prevailed to such an extent that it would have
required an all night session TO have accomplished
that result A determined effort will be made to
reach vote tomorrow. and in anticipation of this,
the leaders of the two sides busy canvassing tins
evening. The repeal people seem confident of sue
cess They count % votes sure, with the probabli-
ties Of two more which are doubtful and not COM
United either way The other side musters SO votes
and are sangune that repeal will fail. The repeal
people however depend on securing enough Of those
committed against repeal to dodge the vote 10y alb
sentng themselves, and thus allowing the repeal to
be effected They count as sure for repeal
Messrs. Cameron, Corbett Cragin, Fessenden Fen
ton, Gilbert. Grimes, Hamlin, Kellogg, Morton,
Pomeroy Pratt, Robertson, Poole. Ross Sherman,
Sprague Thayer Wilson, Yates, Bayard, Casserly,
Davis, McCreery, Norton, Stockton, Thurman, Wick
ers and Fowler Those counted as opposed to repeal
are Messrs Abbott. Anthony BrownlOw, Bucking-
ham, Cattcll Carpenter, Cole, Chandler, Conklng
Drake, Ferry Edmunds, Harris, Harlan, Howard,
Howe, Morrill,, Mcdonald, Nye, Osborne, Patterson,
Ramsey. Rice, Sawyer Spencer, Stewart Sumner,
Schurz Scott, Trumbull, Upton, Wiley, and Will
hams. Those considered as doubtful are Messrs.
Warner and Foreman. Two members will be absent,
Messrs. Salisbury and Hamilton.
The only nomination submitted by the President
to the Senate to-day was William A. Richardson to
be Assistant Secretary Of the Treasury.
The Senate to-day, in Executive session, confirmed
only three nominations, as follows; Elizabeth Van
Lew. Postmistress at Richmond. VA John Titus,
United States Judge for the Territory Of Arizona
Dudley W. Haynes, Pension Agent for Brooklyn and
New-York, rice Porter, resigned.
The President informed the Senate today that he
had approved and signed the bill for the further
security Of equal rights in the District tot Columbia
1t is therefore a law. and is as follows:
Bel enacted. dc That the word white" whenever il
the laws relating 60 the District Of columbia OF
in the charters and ordinances OF the cities OF Washing
ton aud Georgetown, and operates as Limitation on the
right OF any eectOr Of such District OF either OF tine
cite hold any Office, to be selected and 20
juror be- and the same is hereby repealed and u shall
be uAlawful for any person or officer to enforce or
tempt 10 enforce such Limitation after the passage Of
this act.
This law removes altogether the distinctions here
tofore existing between the whites aud blacks to
civil rights.
In the Senate to-day. Senator Fenton introduced
bill providing for a line Of American steamships to
Europe which provides for four departures a week
from New-YOrk and Boston. Senator Wilson made
some effort 10 take up the House adjournment reso-
luton but other Senators thought it better to defer
action on the adjournment until business further
advanced. Senator Sumner made for the fifth or
sixth time an attempt to pass bill reported by him
from the Committee on Foreign Relations, making
the necessary appropriations to carry out certain
DEGREES Of the United States Courts, awarding DANA
Ees TO British merchant vessels illegally captured by
our cruisers during the Rebellion. Senator Stewart
seized the opportunity to make fierce attack on
Great Britain using rather q novel line Of argument.
The morning hour sent the bill over and the Tenure
Of-Ofice matter was proceeded with. Senator
Scott. who had the floor at the adjournment
yesterday. made a concise and pointed argument
against the repeal OF the law but indicated his will
hngness to vote for its suspension. Carl Schurz then
took the floor and spoke probably for three-quaters
of an hour IN most excellent spirit, upon the whole
subject, also Nverring his intention to vote for its
suspension, but to oppose its repeal His remarks
3