The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-01-08
THE ADMI ,sION OF MISSISSIPPI.
TIE CLAIMANTS FOR SEATS FROM GEORGIA.
The Louisiana Contested ase-Southerr
Nominations.
Gen. Porter's Report Of Affairs in
Arkansas.

WASHINGTON, Jan. THE Senate caucussed
two hours on the order of business. No result.
No Senate committees met. Senate is discuss
ing the bill forbidding citizens holding Off ,es.
The House election committee gave Simon Jones,
Of Louisiana, time TO take testimony.
The reconstruction committee is engaged on
Mississippi affairs.
The House is discussing the navy bill. The
Supreme Court is arguing the G,rard case.
Major JEFF. G. Wafford, who was defeated for
the fortieth, but elected to the forty first Coo
gress from Mississippi, was before the reconstruc
tion committee to-day. he opposes the admis-
sion of the State under the election of last sum-
mer knew of frauds, of violence being used ct
the election; thought the Constitution was de-
feated, and if forced on the people would be inju-
rious TO the best interests of the State. The Con-
stitution was two proscrptive the negroes of the
State did not favor disfranchisement. The people
were anxious for peace and quiet, and were vii
ling to submit TO the acts of Congress.
There is no doubt as to the action of the COM
mittee in this case, though Eggleston and his
party are confident Of the early admission of the
State.
The election committee will report adversely to
both Christie and Wimpey, claiming seats from
Georgia.
The privilege to Jones to take evidence in the
louisiana contested case, wherein Jones, Hunt
and Menard are interested, was indefinitely post
poned. Early action is improbable.
Disbursements lastmonth unusually small, being
only sl7 600 600.
toiDquTe into the stationery frauds.
The secretary of the interior reports to the
House that no reduction of bis force was possible
unless the department was reorganized.
similar communication was received from the
attorney general.
A bill increasing the efficiency of the navy was
tabled.
Most of the day was occupied in the discussion
of the overland routes to San Francisco.
House went into committee of the whole and
Adjourned.
Senate-No action taken on the bill to prevent
holding two offices at the same time.
Consideration Of the bill for the relief of Miss
Sue Murphy was resumed. Davis mad9 long
argument in favor of paying such claims. How.
ard followed in brief reply against the proposi-
ton, after which the Senate went into executive
session and adjourned.
The president has nominated Philip II. Morgan
attorney for Louisiana vice Terry, removed Jas.
Eomonston register Of the laud Office at Mobile,
and James Snydam, postmaster at Galveston.
Morgan was confirmed and the other nomna ions
referred to committees.
The Senate judiciary committee met but did not
consider reconstruction matters.
Gen. Porter, Of Grants staff, reports officially
from Little Rock concerning Clayton's militia.
he says The present State government is certainly
in danger. Previous TO the presidential election
Senator Barker and Upham of the lower house,
had been wounded. Hines, member of Con-
gresss and freedmen's bureau agent and U. 5.
marshal were driven away by threats The gov.
tion, tearing the opposition might make capital of
such action. Afterwards he organized eight
hundred militia one-fourth colored, with orders to
live off OF the country, taking what was absolutely
necessary and giving Notwithstanding to pay
all loyal holders of vouchers only. Two sssassins
have already been executed by sentence of
military commission, seventeen are in prison, and
a number of others run out of the State.
Porter says that the best result he sees is the
disposition Of nearly all business men voluntarily
to enroll themselves as posses. pledged TO assist
sheTifls 10 arrest lawess characters if the COVER
nor relieves them of martial law. He has accept
ed many such pledges. and martial law exists in
parts Of seven counties. The entire considerstiye
wing of the Republican party is opposed to the
declaration of martial law. The militia have been
under tolerably good CONTROL and the plunderng
reported IN the press is the taking of supplies
under orders. One negro militiaman, who raped
wbie woman, was promptly arrested, tried and
executed.
General Porter further states that the governor
is anxious TO relieve each county from martial
law as soon as safe to do so. He could seldom se-
cure good men for officers, and 10 the eastern
counties Of the State had to depend upon the me-
groes for soldiers. The governors policy has no
doubt interfered seriously with business men
where martial law has been proclaimed and in
jUred business men of all parties hence the op.
position from loyalists. Ii has nterfered with
travel, taken off hands for the militia when they
are badly needed and created money panics. 1t
has, however, accomplished much more good
than the most sanguine expected.