The New York herald., 1871-01-19
WASHINGTON.
Investigation of the Condition OF
Southern States.
EXCITING DEBATE IN THE SENATE.
Passage Of Appropriation Bills by
the House.

WASHINGTON, Jan. ls 1871.
Animated Desnte in the senate-InvestiSn-
tion of scuthern Affairs.
The monotony OF The Senate proceedings was re-
iicved to-day by lively debate sprnging up on the
resolution OF Senator Norton Tor the appointment
OF select committee TO whom shall be referred the
documents sent in by the President in reply to the
resolution Of inquiry about the condition OF the
Southern States. rte democrats seemed TO be taken
by surprise when the resolution was read, and for
time they were at a loss comprehend It's full
scope and meaning. Bayard, OF Delaware, OBJ
jected to its present consideration, where
upon Morton, who is not easily outgeneraled
moved 10 take from The table the papers
accompanying the Presidents reply TO the Senate
resolution, with view to their being referred TO a
committee This beng agreed to- Morton circum-
vented Bayard 10y moving tnat they be referred 70
special committee. THIS gave rise TO debate which
was very suggestive OF the old reconstruction days
when, upon the merest aluslon TO the condition OF
the SOUTH half dozen Senators were on their feet
at once with elaborate speeches. There Is no
subject 50 suggestive OF discussion as the con-
dltion OF the Southern States, and there is no
telling where the debate inaugurated to-day
may end. The democrats regard Morton's resolu-
ton as reopening the whole question OF reconstruc-
uon. Senator Thurman stated to-day that 1t was
an attempt TO destroy the democratic party in the
South aud to revive the republican party in that
section. Nye Morton and other republicans taunted
the democrats with the statement that they feared
an investigation, because the results would prove
disastrous to the reputation of their party. Thur
man and Casserly asserted that they courted in.
sestigaon, provided it was impartial. They wanIed
TO have the outrages upon White investigated as
well as the alleged outrages upon the blacks. Nor.
ton did not say much to-day, but he took notes and
The understanding Is that he Will make strong
speech defending MS resolution. He contends that
there Is abundant proof at hand to show that there
exists at the South secret political organization,
which has for Its object the murder Of Union men
and the destruction of their property, end
that II is gradually crystallizing over the
whole South. The State governments, he
thinks powerless to arrest the pro-
Grcss OF the organization or TO punish the out
RACES committed by its members when they are de-
tected. There is no doubt but that the committee
contemplated by Morton's resolution viii be ap-
pointed, having power to send for persons ard
papers, to examine witnesses anu DO all other things
usually belonging TO these special investigating
committees. The leaders Of the Ku Klux may ex-
peet to be roughly handled they brought before
ii.
Passage of Appropriation Bills.
The House is making good progress with the ap.
preparation bills, and already the Executive, Legs.
lative and Judicial, the Military Academy and the
Post once bills have been considered and
passed The Consular and Diplomatic bill will be
taken up next, probably tomorrow. There Is dan
ger that any OF the appropriation bills will fail in the
House for want of time The danger is In the Senate,
where everything moves more slowly.
Blow at Polygamy-Utnh as a State.
The bill introduced in the House to-day by Mr. Sar.
gent for the admission OF Utah provides that the
constitution shall provide, by an article forever
nrevocable without the consent Of Congress, that
after the admission OF that State all persons shall
be forever prohibited from contracting any biga-
nous, polygamous or plural marriages or relations
OF concubinage. The bill also forbds that any
mark be put or permitted any ballot by which
the person casting it can be identified.
Proposed Amendments Of the Revenue Law
Abolition of the Income Tax.
The new Commissioner OF Internal Revenue,
General Pleasonton has signazed his entrance
upon his duties by recommending several important
changes In the Internal Revenue law. He was be.
fore the Ways and Means Committee to-day with
budget Of amendments to the present law which he
is anxious to have passed before the close OF the
session. He recommends that the income tax be
abolished forthwith, and, the chairman Of the
committee Mr. Hooper said to-day he gave some
very good reasons why this part Of the law should
be repealed. General Pleasonton demonstrated TO
the committee very clearly tnat 1t costs
almost as much to collec. the income tax
as the tax amounts TO ITSELF In other words, the
government makes nothing out OF the tax and
renders itself odions before the people. The Com
missioner showed that the revenue could very well
afford to dispense with this tax which, under the
exemptions and reductions OF the law passed at the
last session. would not reach seven millions alto.
4ether. General Pleasonton also recommended an
increase in the number Of Supervisors and inspec.
assigned a at ho dfc
tcts assigned TO the supervisors under the existing
law are tcoD large, and II is next to impossible
for them TO give them the care and attention they
required He urged that the moiety system be abo-
export OF American whiskey. General Peasonton
has ether changes to recommend. and be will have
another consultation with the committee
The Brooks-Hastinss Cnse Fizzled Ont.
The Brooks Hastings affair nzzed out to-day,
quite Unexpectedly TO the friends Of both parties 1t
was generally supposed, from the bold front assumed
10y Hastings yesterday and his beasting last night,
that he would be brought before the bar Of the
House today for contempt in refusing to answer the
questions propounded by the committee. The COM
mittec, however fankea hinl, and spoiled whatever
little game OF notoriety he may have arranged to
play. Instead OF bringing hiiG up for contempt
they simply pushed him out OF court because
be had no case. After stating that he was
ready TO back up his charges against Brooks he
(ciused 10 pe sworn or 10 answer wnen brought be.
fore the committee appointed specially TO investi.
gate the charges. The inference drawn by the com.
mlitec was that he Could not sustain his accusations
ana that there was really nothing In them and they
80 reported to-day TO the House. 1t is said that
Hastings friends begged Brooks to Jet up on him,
especially since Brooks discovered that the old man
stone, whose name Is connected with the HASTINGS
libel confession is alive and was willing to be sum.
moDed as witness TO the truth OF the AFFIDAVIT
which Brooks had read In the House the other day
il s generally conceded that BROOKS came out best
10 the contest ~ ~