The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1871-02-18
WASHINGTON.

Semi-mOnthly mail service from Ne"
Orleans ria Galveston to certain Next
can ports. The contractors, within IS
months, arc to construct three first-class
| iron steamships of not less than 1900
tons burthcn, to he subject to the ac
ceptsnce or rejection by the Postmaster
General, and approval by a constructO
appointed by the Secretary ofthe Navy;
in time of war or danger, the Govern
ment to take the vessels by purchase or
payment of a sum equivalent to the in
terest on their ascertained value. The
mail contract not to exceed 10 years,
| nor the annual compensation SloO,OOO.
A reasonable compensation to be paid
! for the first Is months for any pioneer
vessels placed upon the route.
| The Peabody educational fund truss
tees are in session at Philadelphia, and
will continue four days.
The New Jersey Senate has ratified
the 18th Amendment.
The jury on the Bowen case has been
out since = o'clock.
| PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
| "Jo the Senate ana House Of ReIosvscu-
totires Il have this day transmitted to
the Senate the announcement that the
Senate bill No. 21S, an act prescribing
an oath of Office to be taken by persons
| who participated III the late rebellion
! but who are not disqualified from hold
[ ing Office by the 18th Amendment to
the Constitution of the United States,
has become Il law in the manner pre-
scribed by the Constitution, without the
signature of the President
"If this was bill for the repeal of
the test oath required of persons elected
! or appointed to offices of honor or trust,
| 1T would meet my approval. The effect
of the law, however, is to relieve from
taking a prescribed oath all those per-
sons whom it was intended to exclude
from such offices, and to require it from
| all others.
| isBy this law the soldier who fought
| and bled for his country is to swear to
his loyalty before assuming official
! functions, whilst the general who COM
| manded hosts for the overflow Of his
government is admitted to place with
out it. 1 cannot affiN my name to a
law which discriminates against the up
holder of his government.
'I believe, however, that it is not
wise policy to keep from office, by an
oath, those who are not disqualified by
the Constitution and are the choice of
loyal voters, but whilst relieving them
from an oath they cannot take, recon-
mend to release also all those to whom
gu. S. GRANT.'
The Senate has adopted the Confer
ence report giving the District Of Co
lumbia a territorial government 1t
will pass the House.
H0use.-A bill to amend the enforce
ment act was taken up, and long de-
bate ensued. The 18th section was
amended to strike out all that requires
the military authorities to obey a call
made by a Z. S. marshal or his deputy,
and the bill passed; vote l. II to a.
Hereafter all elections for Represent
tatives in Congress, to which elections
the whole bill is confined, shall be by
ballot, written or printed, anything in
the laws of any State to the contrary,
Notwithstanding.
The House is in session tonight.
,Senute.-The House resolution dcclar-
ing national cemeteries the property of
the national government forever and
forbidding their taxation or control by
State governments was presented, but
went over under objections.
Morton called up the joint resolution
of the Indiana legislature withdrawing
its assent to the 18th Amendment. Nor
ton spoke in favor, Blair against the
principles OF the Amendment.
The Senate is in session tonight.
WAsHINGToS, Feb. 16.-Thc Bowen
jury has been discharged; II were for
conviction, and for acquittal.
In the Senate last night, TruInbuII,
from the judiciary committee, reported
adversely to Summers supplemental
civil rights bill.
The House did nothing last night
Admiral Lee has reached Key West
He tclegraphs the Secretary of the Navy
that he has no news Of the Tennessee,
and docs not expect any until the last
of the month, when he viii return.
He has no doubts about the Tennessee
MISCELLANEOUS.
New YORK, Feb. 14.-The two mates
of the steamship Neptune Were held for
trial in 4 bond OF $1,000 each.
Six inches of snow has fallen here.
and continues falling.
BOSTON, Feb. 1I.--Col. Thomas f.
Chickcring died of apoplexy--closely
following his great rival, Steinway.
MEMPHIS, Feb. l4.-Gov. Clayton of |
Arkansas, declines accepting the Scna-
torship until the time for qualification !
arrives. |
The decision in the case of Painter VS. |
Pillow, involving $4,000 for slaves |
bought by Pillow before and during the |
war and for which want of consideration |
is pleaded, was affirmed by the Supreme
Court against Pillow; the Court deciding
that he is liable.
New ORLEANS, Feb. li.-EXtensiVe
are being made through
out the city for the celebration of NTardi
Cirts. Every hall and theatre in the
city is secured for balls. The Order of