The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-02-27
WASHINGTON.
Fact. and Ru,nors.
CABINET sPEcULArloNs.

Gen. Grant, ON Tuesday, broke his provoking
silence in reference to his cabinet SO far az to saw
IN the presence Of several congressman, that he
would appoint Gen. Sco6eld secretary of war.
not with the idea that he would accept the posi.
ton, for he knew Gen. s. wished to return n
the army, but us compliment On his refusal
OF the position, it would be offered TO civilian:
AID that no should offer no civil Office to anv on.
in the army, believing that politics should b
kept out OF the army. He also intimated that
No member of Johnson's cabinet need expect n
re-appointnsnt.
Wade Of Ohio, and Wilson Of Iowa, decline in
advance cabinet appointment. A leading %.
elton in the cabinet is promised to Pennsvlvs-
sis. Columbus Delano has been promised Com.
missioner Rollins place, which indicates that
Ohio will have no cabinet officer. Washbur>e.
Of ILL.,, it is agreed will be sent to France.
CIvIL-TENUgE ACT.
The Senate olings tenaoiously to the civil.
tenure act in spite of Gen. Grants strongly ex.
pressed wish for its repeal. The discussion
among them grew SO hot that on Tuesday the
radical senators concluded 10 settle the hash bv
caucus. Tho caucus, after strong debate, de-
eided to postpone final action ON the question
until after the inauguration; bat the friends Of
repeal, in spite of tho caucus, insisted on 70.
Stunning the debate on the bill when it came up
in regular order on Wednesday, 20 that no deci.
sion has yet been come TO on the subject.
NEGRO SUFFRAGE AMENDMENT.
The CauatA and Houss ara Ja.I 1o,l -
the negro suffrage constitutional amendment,
and there is q fair chance that it will fail. Az
it originally passed the House, it simply read
that ne person in any state should be deprived
of the right TO vote on account Of race, colsr or
previous condition. The Senate took this up,
and adopted in lieu Of il . substitute, adding
/" nor to hold Office sad alss added the word
=" nativity after COLOR The House refused 70
concur. Then the Senate consented to drop the
clause about holding Office, aud the House still
refused to concur. The effort 10 now to patch
up the difficulty in conference committee.
THE COPPER TARIFF.
President johnson vetoed the copper tariff bill,
and the House passed it over his head. The
Senate, however, has still to vote on IT,
ALABAMA CLAIMS TREATY.
The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs do.
cidsd on Tuesday unanimously to report against
the ratification Of the Alabama claims treaty ne
gstiated by Reverdy johnson and Lord Stanley.
So that is lead.
NATIONAL BANK CURRENCY.
The bill which passed the House last week to
apportion the national bank currency among the
states is meeting with strong opposition in the
Senate, and will probably be defeated.
INDIAN BUREAU
The Senate has given Gen. Grant another re-
buff by fatty refusing to pass the House bill 70
transfer the Indian Bureau to the War Depart.
ment--s bill the passage of which Grant earnest
ly advocated.
JOHNSON AND THE SENATE
President johnson has become indignant at
the logged refusal Of tho Senate to confirm any
Of his appointments, and in return declares that
during tue last ten days of the session he will
pocket and thus defeat every bill the Senate
passes.
Tho bill loag pending in the House. known q
Schenok's finance bill. passed the House o,
Wednesday, and is really the most Important
bill that has passed shat body durag the zee.
sion. l. virtually pledges the government -
the redemption Of all its bonds in coin, and
lsgAlisss geld contracts.
BRECKENRIDGE.
John G. Breckenridge WA in Washiastoa o
Wednesday, and had numerous calls from per.
senal and Political friends.