The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-02-09
WASHINGTON
Removal Of the Remains of
Mrs. Surratt.
Important Decision Of the SUI
preme Court.
The Legal Tender Act Not Applicable to
the Payment Of State Taxes.
Discussion on the Suffrage Amend
ment in the Senate.
The Army Appropriation Bill
in the House.
Passage Of the Georgia Electoral
College Resolution.

=
College Resolution.
WASHINGTON, Feb s, 1882
The Evening Session OF the Senate.
The galleries OF the Senate were well filled this
evening unusual number OF ladies being present.
The attendance OF Senators was large, ana every
disposition was shown on the republican side to wait
patiently till morning to reach vote on the const-
tuuonal amendment.
The Grent.Bnnlxs Controversy.
1t is extremely difficult get at the real truth in
the matter OF that supposed order directing Banks
to proceed from Port Hudson to yicksburg to relieve
Grant, and that other order directing Grant to turn
over his command to Banks SO soon as the latter
should join him. The statement has been positively
made that Secretary Stanton or President Lincoln
himself did make such orders and issue them
in the spring OF 1868. An investigation OF
the records of the War Department recently
made In reference to q question connected
with the military operations along the Lower
Mississippi at the time mentioned, has proved
conclusiyely that the records OF the depart
ment contain data to support the statement that
such orders were issued No copies OF orders issued
Of kilograms sent or Of correspondence by mall or
memoranda or entry Of any other character have
been discovered after the most dgent search in all
tine holes and corners OF the department. That in
structions were transmitted to General Banks at
tnat time to unite his army with that under General
Grant, In which case he (Banks) would assume the
supreme command by virtue Of his rank, and that
correspondence occurred between Generals Halleck,
Grant, Banks and others and the Secretary of War,
In relation to eecting junction OF the two forces
there are abundant evidences on record in the War
Department. The charge that has been made tax
ing Mr.. Stanton with having destroyed all traces Of
the papers relating to this order ef supersedure
are pronounced by old and experienced officers
OF the War Department to be simply absurd.
They say that once an order, document or message
leaves the department for its destination single
person can obliterate its record without several
others being cognizant OF such mutilation OF the
books or abstraction from the files, and that II
binet oficer should be guilty OF thus destroy
ing or deiacing the public records no amount or
precaution could prevent the matter from obtaining
publicity when the authority OF that officer over the
department should cease. 1t Is also urged In this
case that II Mr. Stanton had destroyed the public
records there are those now In the department who
would be only too ready to ventilate the offence,
1t Is very well known that Mr.. Stanton was not a
man to inspire his subordinates with any great
degree OF arection for him. OF this explana-
ton OF the War Department authorities is pre-
dcated upon the hypothesis that Stanton per-
mitted the order in question to go through the
regular course. But take the other supposition.
Start with the theory that Stanton did not make the
order in the regular red tape way. What was to
prevent him from emitting the usual fling and
dupicatonS 1t is perfectly idle to say he could not
have done So One thing seems to be pretty gene
rally admitted and that is that either Stanton did
make the orders himself induced Lincoln to write
them, which amounts to the same thing In the end.
New Plan for the Rec0nslruction Of Mississippi.
The Reconstruction Committee held meeting to-
day and heard z. Jefords one Of the judges OF the
Supreme Court OF Mississippi, relative to affairs in
that State. He claimed that he represented q large
portion Of the republican party OF the State, who are
opposed to the adoption OF the constitution voted
upon last June. He submitted to the committee plan
OF reconstruction, which embraces the following
points-First, that Congress shall declare all the
Offices in the State Second, provide for the
appointment OF a provisional Governor, with power
to ill all the Offices thus declared vacant with
power also to remove from office his own ap-
pointees. Third, provide that the proposed consti
tuition shall be so modified or amended as to remove
from It those features that are more proscriptlve
than is required by the reconstruction laws OF Con-
gress. Fourth, provide for election, at the time
designated by the proposed constitution for holding
the annual election for the ratification OF the
sttution amended ana for the election OF all
State, county and municipal Officers. The committee
also discussed the proprety OF reporting 10 the
House q proposition relative to Georgia similar to
that OF Senator Edmunds', which passed the Senate
to-day. When the House proceeds TO the business
the Speakers table, tomorrow, the chairman OF the
Reconstruction Committee will put the senate ONT
resolution its passage, without reference to the
committee.
The Caucus OF the Southern Members.
If Narfh Cor tta an.
caucus OF Southern members held last Friday even.
ing had any other OBJECT than 20 come to an under
standing rs to whether Pacific railroad on the
thrty-nh or oae on the thirysecond parallel would
be the best FOR southern interests to support They
inally agreed on the thirtv-lith parallel
TIE Whiskcy Tax BiiI.
The Committee on Ways and Means have agreed 10
report against the proposed extension OF the time
for the payment OF the tax imported spirits in
bond. They have also decided to report against al
lowing whiskey now In bond TO be removed without
payment of The tax upon giving security. This re.
suit was reached after having heard several deepa-
tons upon the subject all them urging different
action. The object Of the committee is to get the
money which viii accrue nom the payment OF the
tax into the Treasury.
Reduction In Indian Appropriations.
The Senate COMMITTEES on Indian Affairs held a
meeting this morning and determined on devoting
two hours daily hencefortn, until the work IL accom-
pshed, OF going once more over all the Indian
treaties and estimates for the purpose OF adjusting
them TO the diminished amount OF appropriations
allowed by the House. The committee complain OF
the inconsderate action OF the House IN cutting
down the estimates and assert that az no pro sion
is made for the Indian tribes whose annuities
expire this fiscal year there win be extreme dcstltu
tioD and perhaps even war. The committee win
ask for an additional member, acquainted with
Indian affairs to take the place OF Mr.. henderson.
WHO is assent in CUBA. The amount OF work neccs-
sary to be done Is very great tue salary OF every
one casually employed IN the Indian Department,
from doctor 10 blacksmith Las 70 unlergo super
vision.
Railroad J0bbers Disappointed.
The chairman Of the Pacific Rrlt1a committee
Mr.. Howard discharged IN immense cargo Of abOr.