Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-01-31
WASHINGTON
rar.n Bill Dcfeated-vIrginia ONCE
S~eezters-A New Experimentation
ees-HOw Henard lhegro) Conducts
BimseIf-Grancs Proposed Economy.

Nothing OF Importance transpiTed to-
day in the Reconstruction Committee.
The operations of certain laws passed by
the Legislature of Virginia as TO Migrants
and the contract system wss explained
by Col. Baldwin. The former, it appears,
ia copied from the law in existence in the
Northern States, and the violation of the
contract laws, which have been denouDc-
ed by the Radicals, were first inaugu-
rated by the Freedmen's Bureau. The
difficulty Of getting political disabilities
removed is well illustrated in the case Of
a distinguished gentleman now here. He
has beer 3 Governor and Congressman,
and has a national reputation; was
against qualification in 1892 and opposed
secession, and, although u Confederate
Congressman, was elected as a peace
man to that body but a squad of Radi-
Gals and a county committee say he is
opposed to reconstruction, or, in other
words, he protests that negroes shall
have no rights not guaranteed to the
whites OF his State, and thus stands the
chief stumbling block in his way.
The friends OF the tariff bill met with
an unexpected and overwhelming defeat
in Congress to-day. When the House
went into Committee of the Whole, the
first bill in regular order was the tariff,
ard Mr.. hfOofheRd, representing the
Committee on Ways and Means, made q
vigorous effort to have its consideration
proceeded with, but the motion was
Overruled by fOrty-seven for to eighty
six against il. Every member present
voted, and the vote was considered q test
one. The measure may be at lesst re-
garded as q dead one for this session.
II.
G. =. Whittlesey concluded his aTgu-
ment this morning before he reconstruc-
iion committee against the removal OF
disabilities from judicial and other OH
GERS in Virginia and against the plan OF
the committee of nine. Col. Baldwin
spoke briefly in defense Of the Legisla-
ture of 1866. He said the labor meas
ures were adopted after consultation Of
the principal officers OF the Freedmen's
Bureau and the vagranoy law vas copied
from that Of Pennsylvania. John A.
Verritt, a negro from Lynchburg, adj
dressed the committee in opposition to
the committee of nine. This closes the
argument, and the chairman announced
that the COMMITTEES would hear no more
verbal statements in relation to the re-
moval Of political disabilities. All iu-
ture applications and arguments must be
in writing.
The city is full and the omcesseekers
are here in forcs to-day. Grant was so
besieged that he felt compelled to issue
an order declaring that he would not re-
ceiye visitors except two hours in the
morning. He found that IL he did not
lay down this rule and adhere to it, he
could not attend to his military business
at headquarters. The order is to apply
TO Senators and members equally with
the rest, and proves quite a sensation
among these vino fear that IL he keeps
the crowd away now he will not see any
one when he is duly installed rs Pfesi-
dent.
".
A proposition wss agreed upon by the
Senate Committee on IudiSn Affairs to-
day to report a bill creating 4 neW gov
eTnmental department, to have control,
among other Jbirg, OF Indian matters,
The head OF which IL ID have 8 seat in
the Cabinet. Tli5 is iGtended as a sub.
stitute for the Hcuse bill transferring the
Indian Bureau to the war Department.
The latter is more likely 20 be agreed on.
V.
A prominent Senator expressed the
opinion to-day thai despite all the talk
and ell the bills introduced on finance,
nothing would be done this session ne
You'd passing q measure to legaiize coin
contracts.
VI.
The proceedings before the House
Committee on Elections are becoming
immensely popular, and large audiences
are in constant attendance, particularly
on such days as the negro sspirant for 4
seat on the 1JOr of Congress is allowed
TO address the COMMITTEES in his WI be-
half. This negro MenaFd made his
third speech before the committee to-
day, aCd raised q variety OF questions Of
veracity between himself and counsel
representing the other claimants. His
remarks were rambling and in a great
measure irrelevant, The committee
tried in vain to keep within the record,
and his remarks, which were character
lied by a staggering impudence, were
not well received. Ga the first occasion
that he appeared before the committee
he quietly seated himself, unlimited, at
the committees table. He has evil
IDENTIFY been taught a lesson since, for he
EElGELEN q scat EO"hHg IL GuCL1CA EaAL VI
the rO0m. Some idea of the mental cal
iber Of this negro Can be formed from
the fact that without the remotast pros.
pect Of a chance Tor q seat in Congress,
and against the advice of those who ven
ture to advise him, he pursues this inves-
LEGATION with the delight Of a child
sporting with a new toy.
VII
The consummale hypocrisy of the cry
of " economy y as maFBing cut the poll
cy Of the incoming Administration is
daily made transparent. Upon the ad-
vent Of Grant, the fist desperate fight
will be for the control OF the Iaternsl
Revenue Bureau. KLGRing ones have
specihe information that it has been de-
te-mined by the advisers OF the coming
man to Gust the ring" that has so far
given law 20 thst establishment. The
bureau has hitherto, il is known every
where, run the Treasury machine. A
very determined effort will be msd9 &c
this order Of things. A new and
formidable ring Of outsiders have strong
hopes Of unhorsing the whole horde OF
black-msileTs in New York and else
where. or course the public will reap
no bsneft from the change. A more
hungry swarm viii uEub upon the PUBIC
treasury-thats all. In connection with
this matter I learn that q new mode. of
appointment OF Supervisors y of Inter-
nal Revenue viii be devised by Congress
so as to bring them under the supervision
of the Senate. All OF these oficers-the
most important in the government
have been appointed within a very few
months, and Senators seem disposed to
inquire into the agencies through which
they have been appointed. At least, Git
is cOntended) that a new deal is desira-
be in respect TO the more recent Federal