The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-02-02
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON CITY, Jan. II, 1870.


The Senate will shortly commence
the discussion of the Census Bill re-
Gently passed by the House. It is
thought that the Senate will not adopt
it's provisions. The San Domingo
purchase meets with considerable op-
position. It is reported here that a
New York firm in connection with
Professor Cast, now in st. Domingo,
together with Messrs. Cazehean, Tabers
and others, have purchased at few
cents per acre all the lands open tor
purchase on the peninsula of Samana,
and now hold them t: the disadvan-
tage Of the United States. This is one
of the jobs which the President recon-
mended to Congress in his message
1t is right smart spec and / guess can
be made to work, especially as it is
backed by the President. Has the
President been manipulated or is he
trying flyer in land instead Of gold
In this connection may state that the
committee ordered by the House to in
vestigate into the causes which led to
the gold panic in New York in Septem-
Der last, and also to learn if any gov
ernment officials were engaged in it.,
in other words whether the President
and Assistant Treasurer Butterfeld at
New York, were interested have met
so far there has been nothing of a def
mite nature elected, but sufficient evil
dence has been given in order that all
the facts may be got at The commit
tee will have before them to-day, Jas.
Fisk, Jr., A. r. Corbin, the Presiden-
tial bro-in-law, Jay Gould and mem
bers of the firm of Smith, Gould and
Martin. Frederick A. Lane who testi-
fed in New York that General Butter
field was in the speculation has also
been summoned. If this does not turn
out white washing affair as the ma
jority of the committee will, no doubt,
try to make it. predict the develop
ments will startle some good easy souls
who are firm believers in Radical hon
esty. depend solely on the minority
report for getting at the truth OF the
gold swindle. 1t some people are not
guilty then some other people lied most
confoundedly OF. it was the worst case
OF circumstantial evidence on record. =
The charges brought against Mr.. Clapp,
Government printer, of misappropria-
ting the funds of the Bureau, will re-
suit in the election of a new printer
The rule now is for the Senate to elect
the printer. A bill has been presented
in the House providing that both
Houses participate In the election of
printer as was previously the case, by
this means Clapp will be got rid Of
AN important decision with regard to
the income tax was delivered by Judge
Cadwallader, at Philadelphia, last
week. A merchant who refused to de-
liver his books to United States AS
SCISSOR was sustained by the Court, and
the points of the counsel for the de-
PENDANT who was prosecuted for refns-
ing to delirer his books to the Assessor
of his district, were decided to be well
taken. There has always been little
doubt of the unconstitutionality of the
income tax, and if Il number of acts
now OIL the Statue Books had the APP
plication of judicial examination
there would be considerable wiping
out Of the late legislation Of our immac-
ulate Congress. Mr.. Sumner will re-
port to the Senate to-day bill regnla-
ting ocean telegraph cables which has
occupied the Senate Committee at its
last three meetings. The provisions of
the bill prevent consolidation of, the
English and French cables and conse-
quent raising Of charges, as was de-
signed. One monopoly nipped in the
bud.
General, Terry, Military Commander
in Georgia, is in constant telegraphic
with General Sherman,
to whom the Reconstruction acts give
all power in the matter, with regard to
cases which are daily coming under his
notice. General Sherman speaks very
highly of Gen. Terry, and that he will
try and get things right in the State
So far Sherman would approve his acts
but would allow Of no partizan view in
any order or decision. He also says
that the Courts are open to try any
who may be guilty Of perjury and if SO
proven on their trial they should then
be disqualified from holding their seats
in the Legislature. The President and
Secretary of War IRE in favor of the
arrest of the alleged pernrers and of
giving them dose of Military commits
sions. Radicals here are very much
annoyed at the result Of their last eff
fort to guarantee State Radical form
of government. Georgia is nettle in
their garments, and all the fault Of the
scoundrel Bullock who dined and win
ed and banqueted a number of men,
bers of both Houses when he was here