Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-12-15
WASHINGTON.
RumOred ReOpening of Alabama Claims
Akeflaan's Resignation Accepted.


New YORK, Dec. 14.-The Herald,
special dispatch from Washington says thai
] it now appears to have been discovered that
! the British Government completely out
witted the administration on that part Of
the treaty of Washington providing fer the
/ appointment of arbitrator, and that de-
eisions adverse to the position and interests
/ of the United States will be the result oil
the Geneva conference. Only two of the
five arbitators are friends of republican
form of government. 1t Is said that the
upshot OF this viii be a reUpening Of the
Alabama dispute. The Spanish Govern
ment Is anxious to bring about complica-
ton of this kind, and is supposed to favor
England's non-liability for the escape of the
Alabama, because she desires to hold the
United States responsible for the escape of
Cuban priyateers and the protection given
to the Hornet and Florida. This whole
subject will be ventilated in the House in a
few days, when the Alabama treaty comes
up for discussion.
Exit Alderman. @
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14.-The President
to-day sent to the Senate the name of Geo.
H. Williams, of Oregon, to be Attorney
General, in place of Alderman, whose res
ignation will take effect Jan. 10.
The Senate in executive session to-day
took up the nomination Of George FL. VIII
liams to be Attorney General of the United
States and unanimously confirmed it with
out reference to committee. This was in
accordance with usage and courtesy iu
every case where the nominee had been a
member of the Senate, his character being
sufficiently known without requiring for
nal enquiry.
Notes of mutual admiration between
Alderman and Grant, concerning the resig-
nation of the former, are published.
Southern Claims.
The Southern Claims Commission made
a report to Congress to-day. They say that
voluntary residence III an insurrectionary
State during the war is primd fdcie evidence
of disloyalty and must be rebutted by salts
factory evidence. Claims have come from
those who served in the Rebel army, and
the Commissioners hold that such service
is proof of disloyalty. The whole number
of claims presented up to the end of No
vember is 10,099, and the entire amount
$26,599,000. The Commissioners have ex-
amined $50 cases, in which the amount
claimed was S1,656,357; they allowed
sS44,166.
Chicago.
The House Committee on Public Build
ings and Grounds was in conference to-day
with the Committee on Appropriation. The
latter has agreed to report back Farwell's
bill with an amendment reducing the ap
preparation from five to four million dollars
for erecting buildings in Chicago for al
general government purposes, this amount
to cover all purposes.
A pamphlet was laid on the desk of the
members of Congress to-day advocating a
plan of government aid toward rebuilding
Chicago by an issue of money TO owners of
real estate there, secured at long dates on
property.
The House Committee on Commerce this
morning gave hearing to the delegation Of
steambOatmen.
British Claims.
The American and British Commission
ers to day decided that the United States
are not liable for the payment of debts con-
tracted by the rebel authorities.
A Warm Time in the Republican sena-
tOriaI Caucus-RefractOry Senators.
Special to the Cincinnati Commercial.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12.-The Republi-
can Senators, the Administration support
ers, having the power to do so, went into
caucus this afternoon to have their quarrels
out among themselves with reference to the
matters already up and coming up, in which
the Grantists fear collision may occur. As
heretofore said in these dispatches the Ad-
ministration Senators oppose with all their
strength the reorganization OF the Retrench-
ment Committee under Senator Patterson,
and they fear that the Republicans who IA
vor the hunting out of dishonesty and eX-
travagance in office, whether it hits one par
ty or another, with the aid of the Demo
Gratis, will have votes enough to carry the
committee.
The administration rings are running
over with fraud and corruption, and are
also reckless in the extravagant use Of the
peoples money, and its members know it
too well; but they cherish the dishonest
system because it helps the party and prom
ises to renominate Grant. For this reason
they want to prevent the forming Of COM
mittee which will make thorough work Of
it; they want to defeat the proposition to
give the committee power to send for per-
sons and papers, and above all they want
to prevent the public from listening to the
discussion over the appointment Of this
committee.
Senator Trumbull's speech, yesterday,
gave them an indication as to the turn at-
fairs are taking. 1t was their proposition
to consider the subject in caucus. They
feared that Trunbull or some other reform
ont in mo q
iniure the Grant administration. So they
decided to smother the matter in caucus.
They might as well have attempted to
smother the Chicago fire with blanket.
The caucus met, and it was proposed to ap-
point a committee to inquire if some plan
might not be adopted to reduce the number
of standing committees, and to consolidate
the work. 1t was thought this plan would
work, and the Grant Senators hoped to get
the subject of retrenchmentin into committee
loval to Grant. Mr.. Frelinghuysen, in
a short speech, was the first to develop this.
He said he presumed that would do away
with Mr.. Trumbulrs proposition. Mr..
Trumbull sprang to his feet, and said he did
not so understand it. His proposition had
been offered in good faith, and would be
pressed. A large amount of dishonesty had
been already discovered, and he knew the
half was not thought of. The most serious
charges are made, said he, and if they are
not true we should show that they are
not, and vindicate the party. If they are
true, let the reformation begin at once.
The discussion grew very warm. Mr.,
Wilson announced himself for Grant, but
counseled moderation, as ne always does.
He said, however, that Republicans had the
right to oppose the denomination of Gen.
Grant, and the Senate or any other body
could not read them out of the party. Ed
munds charged that the proceeding was a
plot. and high old time followed. What
ails EdmundS is that he is dying TO 60 on
| the Supreme Bench in place of Nelson,
whose death or resignation wouldprobably
not fill him with anguish. Conkling also
wants TO wear the silken robe and balance
the golden scales. COnkling followed Ed
munds, and was furious that such base
proceeding should go on. He said the Ad-
ministratiOn is ''ours," and that We ought
not to drag Tom Murphy, Latin aud others
sins out, to be pecked at by Democratic
| DAVIS. The debate momentarily grew warm
er in its intensity, and finally, after two
| hours session, it was seen that no arrange
ment could be carried out, and the caucus
| adjourned until tomorrow at lO@ O'Clock
| The effort will be made in caucus to de
feat the proposition for a committee, and
| a., a., an,laal IN Trumbull Sumner Fen