The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-12-19
Latest News from Washington.
s,ec,,l ,elrrran 10 the Richmond Dispatch.

Special telegram 10 the Richmond Dispatch.
WASHINGTON, December 1S.--Tlie Senate
was in session until 10 O'Clock tonight, the
discussion being upon Trumbnlls amend.
ment to the caucus resolution for the appoint
ment of committee OH investigation and
retrcnciment. The debate was exceedingly
animated, Sumner, Patterson, Trumbull, Lo-
gan, and others, criticising in caustic terms
the proposed constitution OF i committee
without single member except Bayard &c
lectcd from senators who had originated and
supported the movement for thorough lnTcs-
tig,tion. Such action they protested against
as contrary to parliamentary usage and the
plaincst demands of right and common sense,
and as calculated to make the country believe
there was 10 sincere desire for searching
investigation Of caucus under the present
Administration.
Logan and Sumner explicitly declared that
they would not be bound by the decision Of
a caucus in such matters, and defied the ma
iority to read them out of the party for any
such reasons.
Trumbull moved as an amendment all his
instructions previously published, and they
were finally adopted after striking out the
paragraph for the prevention of appoint
ments being used rs instruments OF party pa
tronage, and with a proviso that the power
of the committee to send for persons and pa
pers shall be limited to this session.
Casserly was added to the committee as an
other Democratic member, making 1t now
consist Of eight. IlNoS.
Congressional.
WASHINGTON, December 1S.--SenGtc.--The
New York salt manufacturers protest against
arcducti0n Of the duty on salt.
The entire day was conslnncdiu discussing
the character of the committee Of retrcncl-
ment. Mr.. Bayard insisted that there should
be two Democrats OIL the committee, and Mr..
Sumner denounced the exclusion OF his wing
from the committee.
Mr.. scott nominated Mr. Casseiiy az an
additional member of the Committee OH Re
trenchmcnt.
At the conclusion Of the debate the conf
mittce nominated, with the addition Of -Ir.
Casserlv, was elected
The resolution Of Mr. Trumhull, with the
privilege to send for persons and papers, was
adopted.
This is triumph for the ultra Adninistra-
ton men. During the debate Mr.. Sumner
said that the senatorial caucus was nlere
matter Of convenience, und binding upon no
one.
AS indicating tile character Of the debate,
the letter from General Logan il autographed:
"SenatGr Logan said it seemed TO lie as
sumed by certain senator's that all Who sup
ported Senator Trlmbull's proposition were
irving to niure the Administration. lie had
no such desire, vet he had voted for the pro-
position, and would do so again, becaSilc he
believed it 10 DC 4 wise and proper measure.
He understood that he was not IN good
standing with certain man who assumed to
control and guide the party, but it mattered
very little to him whether lie was or not. He
was responsible tc his constituents ardiiobody
clse Those men affected to lie the special
champions Of the President, but il lie DO
gam were President and they attempted 70
aid him in the saline way he would think il
wise to get rid Of their assistance as sooE as
possible. 1t was almost impossible TO act Ill
independent part in the Senate row. These
three or four !ncn-rerllapS iivc--Who under
take to manage the party call caucus on any
man who is disposed 20 be independent and
threaten to read him out. For one. he would
act up to his convictions and run the risk OF
being read out"
Il don't believe" said Logan, :" that the
| President of the United States fears inycst!-
cation; but you have made the country be-
| icvc he docs. | don't believe that the Sccrc-
| tary Of the Treasury fears investigation; but
you have made the country believe that he
! 7 don't l,aiiorn that M. tho np-
partments Of the Government fear inycstiga-
| ton; but you have made the country be-
lieye they do. As to the organization of
this committee, it is peculiar. When the
Senate divided Oil this question OF investi-
CATION Of the public service, twenty-fonr
senators voted for the proposition and thirty
| five against It; but when it comes to the
appointment Of this committee, seven men,
bcrs of it are taken from the thirty-tve and
only one from tie twcnty-four. OF course
there was no design in this" [Laughter.l
"The committee is composed of honorable
men because senators are all honorable
men [laughterl; but I fear that the making
UP of the committee in this way does not re-
Acct much credit upon us twcnty-iour."
Laughter
House.--No bills Of general interest were
introduced under the weekly call.
Mir. Hodenan introduced a resolution re-
GREETING the severity Of the Theirs Govern
ment of France towards the Communists.
The resolution went over, the House refusing
! to suspend the rules by Il vote of % yeas TO
sc nays--not two-thrds voting ill the Affirm
ativc.
A resolution sympathizing with foreign
people struggling for sClfgorcrnncnt was
adopted unanimously. ~
The Contests for Seals In Congress.
WASHINGTON, December 1S.-The Elections
Committee refuse to extend time to Edwards,
in the contest case of Bowles Us. Edwards,
from Arkansas.
The case OF Cessna rs. Myers goes over
until after the holidays.
In the Elections Committee of the Senate
Mr.. Morton f;lvors Blodgett and the rest favor
Norwood, in the contest from Georgia.
Weather Probabilities.
WASHINGTON, December 1S.-Thc barome-
ter will probably rise tonight and on Tues
day from the Middle and East Atlantic
coast westward to the Mississippi with
partially cloudy and clear weather. Fresh
northwest winds will prevail tonight north
and east of Virginia, with clearing weather.
The storm OH the New England coast is clear
ing away tonight. a small area of low ba-
rometer with rain will develop in Louisiana
and Arkansas, and move northeastward.
Pleasant weather will prevail Oh Tuesday in
the South Atlantic and Gulf States. Dan
gcrous winds are not anticipated tonight
east of the Rocky Mountains, unless, posi-
bly,, over a small portion Of Massachusetts,
Bay.
| General If8ms.
WASHINGTON, December 1S.-Paymastcr-
| General Brice has been retired Mt his own
request. Major Alvord is acting in his place
| 1,..,,,atrri1o, hnr led for hank StStn-