The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-02
President Grants Opinion Of the
Mississippi Contest.
The Future Action of Reconstructed Vir-
ginians to Serve as Guide.
GOVERNOR WELLS in RICHMOND.
Prospects of q Further Lease OF
Power to His Party.
THE POLITICAL FIGHT IN TENNESSEE.
Andy JOhnsOn's Prospects
fOI. the SenatOrship.

Another Heavy Reduction in the Debt.
The public debt statement. to be published to-
morrow. will show further reduction Of about
&E,26o0oo.
Additional Purchase of Five.Tweuties.
The Secretary Of the Treasury has instructed the As
sistant Treasurer at New York purchase 900
OF nve.twenties Q week during the month Of Au-
gust, the first purchase to be made Wednesday.
August 4. These purchases are In addition to the
purchase for the sinking fund Of ST. 900 OF bonds
on alternate weeks.
RumOrs Regardlug Cuba.
For few days there has been a rumor prevalent
here that our government would soon grant bellige
rent rights to the Cubans Some people pretended
to be so positively informed ON the subject as to be
willing to risk all the money in their possession on
wager that Secretary Fish would concede benigerent
rights within ten days. The prevalence of this
rumor due to the reported Cabinet discussion
the subject, but am informed the matter has not
been before the Cabinet for three four weeks at
least and that not the slightest change in the policy
Of the administration has since then occurred.
There is therefore ground for the belief that
government Will act favorably towards the Cubans
within the short period mentioned The simple
truth is, the entire subject so far as our govern
ment s concerned remains unchanged
Taxing Government Bonds Held Abroad.
The subject OF taxing government bonds held by
foreigners or people who reside abroad is now
occupying the attention Of some influential men,
bors OF Congress. and it quite likely that at the
next session bill to that end Will be intro
duced in both Houses. The idea is that when
coupons Of such bonds held by parties residing
abroad are presented for payment the proposed tax
can be deducted, and that such deduction is only
equitable, considering the fact that all holders
this country thus taxed while foreigners escape
the burden entirely.
The Presidents Views OH tho Mississippi Con-
test.
prominent conservative republican from Missis-
sippi, who had an interview with the President on
Thursday in regard to political affairs in that State
informed the President that the only desire or the
conservative republicans neutrality ON the part
of the administration in the approaching election.
The President is represented as replying that he
wished for the success OF the party which would in
good faith carry out the reconstruction acts ratify
the fifteenth article Of amendment to the constitution
Of the United States and give protection to life
and property in Mississippi. He wanted to
know whether the former enemies of the
government were acting In good faith in
their present professions Of loyalty, and said that
this would be ascertained in part by the action
Of the conservative republicans in Virginia If they
were acting IN good faith he would be glad to have
not only the Intelligence and influence OF that State
but Of the South generally in support OF his admin
stratiOn. The President inquired at what time the
conservative republicans would nominate their can
didates, and when informed that 1t would probably
be about the LIST Of September he replied that he
would see what kind OF ticket they would put In
the field, and his action would be Influenced more or
less by subsequent events and the course OF affairs
in the South He added that he desired to see the
payment OF the public debt secured and the integ.
rty and honor Of the nation rendered involate and
when this was accomplished he would be satisfied.
The Contest In Tennessee-Senter's Prospects.
Mr.. J. ]. Noah, OF Tennessee, arrived here last
evening. He reports that Senter's majority in the
forthcoming gubernatOral contest will probably
reach 10000 being in excess Of that of
Grant and Cofax at the last election. He
says that the course OF Governor Boutwell,
and the Postmaster General in endorsing Stokes to
the detriment OF party interest Is universally de-
nounced by majority of the radical element of the
State, who consider that Stokes should have been
advised to withdraw in the early part Of the cam.
paign and accept the United States Senatorship
which had been rendered to him at the time the nom.
mating convention assembled. He represents Stokes
as privately conducting his canvass in manner
peculiarly offensive to all Northern men, whom he
denounces carpet-baggers, and threatens to drive
out OF the State. These men comprise the ruling
element of the liberal radical wing, and are nearly
all ex-federal soldiers. Mr.. Noah explains the
position of Senator Brownlow on the franchise
question as being one OF no recent date and one
which is in perfect accord with the various enact
ments of Congress. Stokes having always pitted
himself unsuccessully against Brownlow for his po-
stons as Governor and Senator 1t is quite natural
the Parson has no great amount OF interest in his
success Governor Sentey proved his support Of the
Union by lingering months inside of prison walls,
where he was incarcerated by the rebels for his
Union sentiments at a period when Stokes, In his
famous Duncan letter, was doing his best to
age secession and Offering his services In the Con.
federate cause With regard to tine probability OF
a democratic majority in the legislature Mr..
Noah contends that this by no means
foreshadows the election Of Andrew Johnson a.
as Senator Fowlers successor. although the ex Pre-
, sident Will undoubtedly make vigorous effort to
secure It. The probabilities are that many of the
so.called democrats will return to their former
places in the old line whg party, ana consequently
the balance Of power will rest with the republicans
Mr. Emerson Etheridge Will be prominent contest.
ant for the senatorshp, and is already being pressed
with great vigor. He is now running for the state
Senate. with certainty Of success. Whatever dis.
astrous consequences result TO the republican party
I'm Tennessee may be attributed to the selfish am
bition OF Congressman Stokes, who, like Bottom,
OF Shakspearan fame, wants to play all the parts.
and will after this contest have to content himself
with "roarng gently as sucking dove" MIR. Noah
has been participating In the canvass OF Alabama
and reports the probable success Of v out Of six OF
the republican nominees for Congress, the Hunts.
vile district being the only In doubt In Missis-
sipp he reports great strength in the Dent move
mont, which is daily on the increase. Clubs are
being formed in the interest Of his nomination, at
the head OF which are found men of high standing
who have hitherto kept aloof from politics. 1t is
not generally believed in Mississippi that the Presi-
dent will interfere either personally or by the aid OF
the federal patronage in favor OF or against the
success OF tins movement.
Return Of Governor Wclls-A Rosy View Of
Political Matters in Virginia.
Governor Wells reached Richmond to-day, having
han aince the reault of tho elaciinn hecame