The New York herald., 1870-01-14
WASH HINGT0N
A Foreign Minister'S Opinion Of the
American Press.
Force of the C0ntending Armies
in Cuba.
--~>~->~--~>~~-~~>~~~-~~~~
BILL FOB REDUCING THE ARMY.
Bubbles from Mungen, the
RepudiatOr.
RADICAL FIGHT OVER VIRGINIA.
Lively Tilt Between Trumbull and
Sumner.
BILL FOB REDUCING THE ARMY.
Bubbles from Mungen, the
RepuiliatOr.
RADICAL FIGHT OVER VIRGINIA.
lively Tilt Between Trumbull and
Sumner.
WASHINGTON. Jan. IS. 1870.

My recent dispatches In regard 10 the state OF the
Cuban revolution have caused good deal OF excite
ment and comment in certain circles and particu-
larry among Cuban sympathizers. who seem disposed
to discredit my Information and to impugn the ve
raclty OF the people from whom | have derived IT,
have only to state that my statements were pre-
pared with care and delberatlon. and furnished
for publication with as much regret as some
OF the Cuban patriots could themselves hav
experienced. In the simple matter OF giving news
one should have no sympathy or feeling to consult
and 1t was with that conviction that | wrote my
dispatches. 1t is proper to give both sides OF the
story, and therefore DO not hesitate to state that
the Cuban officials here affirm that they have still
large army in the field and that they are daily sup
plying that army with ammunition, weapons
and medical stores. These supplies, they
state, are forwarded In small quantities from
neutral ports around Cuba, so as to avoid risking
any large quantity at a single venture. Then some
OF the least favoraDy disposed parties toward Cuba
admit that the Cubans have $4,000 or 14O00 men
still under arms, though they not concentrated
or gathered In considerable numbers at any one
point The Spaniards on the other hand, including
che volunteers are said to number ut least so 600.
Senatorial Tilt Between Trumbull aud Sum-
ner-DamaEinG Proofs Against a Virginia
Carpct.Baggcr.
Quite q lively scene occurred In the Senate this
afternoon during the debate ON the Virginia bill
Porter, the carpet-bag Congressman elect from the
Richmond district had during the debate very cooly
cnsconCed himself III the chair Of Senator Nye thus
dlsllacing that Senator In order to supply Sumner
with material in the futile war which that renowned
champion Of human rights Is waging against the
admission Of old Virginia. Senator Trumbull felt
called upon 10 notice this intrusion OF an
unprivieged person on the floor when Mr.. Sumner
IN great heat insisted that Porter had much right
In the chamber as Governor Walker, and when re-
minded by Mr.. Trumbull that Governor Walker was
entitled to the privilege OF the floor the Executive
OF State he replied that Porter had right there
by custom at any rate; and on this point he was
correct for, Mr. Trumbull said 1t has become the
custom for persons engaged In lobbying in the in
terest OF measures to come In on the floor or the
Senate al ubituna, In defiance of the notice Of
the rules OF that body. TO show how much cre-
dence Porter was entitled to, and his right TO be
regarded as champion OF the loyalty OF Virginia
Mr. Trumbull read the charges which he was tried
by military commission by order Of General Butler
during the war. Among the charges was speaking
disrespectfuliy OF the government and being drunk
for nine days. Mr.. TrumDull could hardly proceed
for the laughter which came from all parts
OF the chamber, and Porter, who had
sneaked or to a sofa, looked very chopfaen. This
tween Messrs. Sumner and Trumbull, who pounded
away at each other In great zes neither preserving
his equanimity. Each insisted that he had been the
great upholder Of reconstruction and all the mea-
favor Of the cOored man. and that the other
had retarded rather than assisted the work. After
the mill was over the Senate went into executive
session.
Reduction Of the Army and Oniccrs' Pay.
The army bill prepared at the War Department,
entitled IAN act to reduce the army" provides that
all regiments OF cavalry artillery and infantry shall
have the same number or officers The Secretary OF
War Is authorized to assemble board composed OF
three general officers, to examine fully into the
qualifications and general fitness Of all officers who
may be numerically In excess Of the organization
or waiting orders, and recommend for transfer or
appointment to office such Of the number as may
be determined upon by the board to be best MT, as
well as In view Of previous active service and
unulug Willingness 10 do duty, to fill the same. The
report Is to be submitted to the President who il he
shall approve, Will make the appointments and
transfers by and with the advice and OF the
Senate. All officers not recommended are to be
separated therefrom and cease TO be officers OF the
army. The present provision Of the army laws that
seven per cent OF officers may be retired, to be
pealed and hereafter the number shall be left to the
discretion Of the President, provided the whole
number retired shall not exceed 25O.
General LOgan's bill, introduced by him to-day,
adopts the above mentioned provisions adding that
all Officers mustered out shall be entitled to one
years pay and allowances. Tie ofllces OF general
and lieutenant general shall continue only so long
rs vacancies do not occur. The brevet rank Is
abolished, and oa.,ers as to title are confined g
their proper grade The regular pay ~ fixed as FOL.
lows:-Genera $4,000; major geitrai, 81, 900; brga-
der general 5000; colonel $500; lieutenant
colonel and major, s250O; captain (monnted, 81 900;
captain mot moun,ed, S1SoO adjutant. 81, ,soo regi-
mental Quartermaster, Sl,s00; first lieutenant
tmounted $1,000; second lieutenant tniountcd),
1900; second lieutenant (not mounted), sl,4oO;
chaplain, 81, ,2oo Pay OF aid-de-camp major gene
raj 5000; pay OF aid-de. camp TO Drigaoier general
$3.50; and acting commissary, 500 per annum in ad-
diton TO pay Of rank The above schedule is TO be
IN full OF oil commutatlon and allowances.
Raid Upon Illicit Distslicries In yirginn.
A report OF the operations OF the detachment Of
the Fifth cavalry operating In the Eighth district or
Virginia. shows that forty nine illicit dis.ercs
have been visited twenty-five stills destroyed and
three seized About one hundred and twenty gal
Ions OF brandy were seized, four hundred gallons OF
low wines destroyed and twenty-five men arrested
during RAID upon Illicit dsrilleries lasting fortysx
days, during which over a thousand miles were
travelled by the cavalry. Collector Henderole OF
the Eighth district, feels that the raid has done
much good AMI been OF great service TO the district
He says that many of the worst characters and the
most open violators OF the internal revenue laws
have been arrested The results snow that no other
course could have been pursued BY the government
which would have been so beneficial both as warn
Ing to those who resist the law and as mode OF
collecting taxes from men who nave resisted.
The Presidents First Public Reception.
The President held his frst public reception to.
night. The attendance OF ladies and gentlemen was
verv large, and included distinguished persons In
civil ana military service and members OF the diplo-
matte corps. The presentations TO the President
and Mrs. Grant were made In the Blue Room. Mrs.
Fish during the evening assisted Mrs. Grant in the
reception OF guests, who after the friendly forma-
ties passed into the East Room The crowd there
was 50 great however, thar there was not Sufficient