New-York tribune., 1869-03-03

exists among the people; ana 10 Improve the compo
stion of the popular branch of Congress by facili
| tating the introduction and continuance OF men OF
ability and merit that body Tho plan is
| as follows: Representatives being assigned TO q
State under the constitutional mode of distribution
each eeCOr in the State shall possess as many votes
there Representatives TO be chosen. lie shall
possess his due and equal share OF electoral power as
q member of the political body or State. 1t Is next
proposed that the elector shall exercise tins right OF
ton, and without compulsion of law lie shall be-
stow distribute his votes upon or among candi-
dates with entire freedom and shall be relieved from
the legal cOnstralnt to which he has heretofore
been subjected. He may select his candl-
date or candidates anywhere within
the limits of his State from all its qualified citizens
and he may exert his political power upon the gener
al representation of his State, instead OF the repre-
sentatiOn of particular district within it, Here is
| unquestOnaby q large and valuable extension OF
privilege to the citizen, relief from him of incOn-
| venient and OdOus restraint, and more complete
application of that principle OF selt-government up
on which political institutions are founded, and
what is material for consideration, Isl that while all
the advantages of plan of election ~ general tick
ct are secured, all its inconvenience and evils are
| avoided. The Committee examine this subject at
length arguing that the unrestricted vote is In strict
conformity with democratic principles, and realizes
more perfectly ideas of popular government, for
| by it the whole mass of electors are brought into
direct relations with the Government and particular
| ly with that department or branch OF Govern
ment, the principal one in power, If not
| in dignity, which makes the laws.
All will participate, really, in choosing representa-
tives, and all will be represented in fact Now tho
beaten body of electors choose nothing unless IT be
modification and are not represented ut ALL Tho
Committee conclude by saying The argunentto for
reform may be summed up III few words. By it We
VIII obtain cheap elections, just representation, aud
contentment among the people. BY it we will also
secure able men in the peoples House. BY IL our po-
litical system will be invgorated and purified. BY
| it our country viii take bond OF tho future, that
our Government shall be blessing and not a curse
that prosperity shall be enduring; that our free
institutions shall not perish from the face of the
| earth"
No event of great importance transpred at the army
Headquarters this morning There ls no decrease IN
| tho number Of visitors, and constant stream was
kept up during the forenoon. Gov. a. j. Hamilton.
| Col John H. Haynes, NJ. H. Armstrong DIR. X N.
Lane, +. w. Sumner, Capt. Edwards Dr. Baker Col.
StanCe and Mcssrs. Stickbrdge and Camp OF Texas,
called upon Gen. Grant to-day, and were presented
| by MaOr-Geu. j. J. Reynolds. Gov. Hamilton,
in behalf of the Texans, congratulated Gen.
| Grant and the country ut large, and the
| South in particular, upon his election;
and assured him that the Texas Convention had
presented good Constitution to the people and he
had no doubt of its ratification and that Texas would
| thus soon be restored 10 tho Union. Gen. Grant eX
pressed his qualification, and said that he thought
Gen Candy was an excellent officer but he felt it
due 70 Gen. Reynolds to restore the latter to his COM
mand. The Texans were well pleased with their in-
terview. They are all opposed TO division Of the
! State. te .s-
1he New-York City Councils delegation, 35 in
| number, under the escort of a Committee of the
| Washington City Council, repaired to the White
House this morning TO pay their respects TO Prcsi-
| dent johnson. The latter, however, did not make
his appearance, aud the visitors. having awaited
hour departed for the purpose OF visiting Arlington
| and Mount Vernon.
| Carl Schurz the new Senator elect from Missouri
was serenaded tonight by the German Societies OF
this city, who turned out III long procession with
banners torches and music, with the l2Sth Infantry
band. Mr. kluckhuln made an address 10 Mr. SchuTz,
after which the latter came forward and addressed
| the crowd as follows:
| MY GERMAS FRIENDS: thank you for tho hearty
reception for your joy In the election Of myself aud
do regard this demOnstretiOn personal honor 20
myself but in honor Of the cause represent whoever
has read history knows that The Germans wherever they
| have dweit, by their conduct, intelligence. and
patriotism, have won the admiration OF tho
| country OF America now the greatest nation Of the
eXertions Of Fnekelnburg and myself but 10 principles
for which fought Whoever rendered TO the country
whoever paid his money into the Treas.
ury for the support Of the Union cause,
nheerf1Ilv contTi6ated their means have gained
| with JOY. While We serve Ia the positions TO
may arise and Il is impossible now to know what posl.
tion we should have TO take; bat whatever may do
Will be honestly and entously done and II II should
not agree with the views Of of you, hope you
viii give US confidence, andi believe that
Gen. Butler to-day made a report from tho Select
Committee appointed by resolution Of the House in
July last In regard TO Prince Edwards Island Tho
| Committee, in pursuance OF instructions went 10
Prince Edwards Island, in the Gulf Of St. Lawrence,
one of the colonial dependencies of Great Britain,
| arriving at ChaTlottetOwn on the Goth Of August
They found there disposition 70 aid them IN an
Investigation and to meet them In terms OF most lib
spirit lar III tnelF power. Iney met
portion of the Executive Council, and exchanged
their views 10 what desirable by both parties.
In conclusion the Committee say they desire thus
publicly to express their sensibty Of the courtesy,
kindness, and hospitality with which they were
received and treated by the people OF Prince Edwards
Island aud its authorities They returned thence
deeply impressed with the desirabeness OF the pro-
motion of reciprocal trade between the Island and
the United States with no doubt of it's feasibility
and had il been within the scope OF their instruc
tions would have reported bill to carry ont that
object But they have no doubt the subject will re-
ceiye that consideration Of the Committee on Com
merce TO which it is entitled The report is signed
by Mr.. Butler Of Massachusetts,, Mr. Poland Of Yer
mont, and Mr. Beck of Kentucky.
Papers have been circulated in the House OK tep-
representatives as follows: Tho retiring members
of the FOrtieth Congress, by mutual request, will
meet on the evening of March D. 1862 at o'clock, in
the parOr of the Seaton House, in this city, for
interchange Of friendly good wishes and farewells
before parting which though known only TO tho
Supreme Ruler will doubtless in many instances bo
for the last tme The attendance of all is earnestly
requested This is signed without distinction OF
party by Messrs. briggs, Mckee, Pomeroy, Upson,
Glassbrenner, Baldwin, Pile, Koontz. Ashley lOhioD
Stewart HurbuTd, Miller, MOOrehead, Donnelly,
Washburn CIndJ Woodbridge Window, Grover
Spalding Mallory, Cary Trowbndge, Griswold, Shell
alb arger, Van Aernam, and others. ....
The following petition, demonstrating against tho
ratification of the Usage Treaty, has been received
by the Hon. T.. ID. Morgan, at Washington, for pre-
sentation TO the Senate: 49,
10 he Honorable ne Senate Of he United sates Tho
petton the Executive Committee OF tue United States
Indian Commission respectfully shows
That your petitioners havo heard with grave appre-
hensiOns that certain agreement with Indians for
eight million OF land, commonly called tho Usage
Indian Treaty pending before your honorable body
ate Your petitioners respectfully ask behalf OF tho
association that represent that said treaty be rejected
DS1able reasons First because said treaty has been
formally denounced as pretended treaty improperly
dans and rs unjust In other respeots which denuncla
ton fully appears in the Report No 63 presented by the