The New York herald., 1871-12-11

war for supremacy IN Congress, though Senator
Wilson's opinion as TO the iruitfulness OF coaii-
lions, and passivel SIN and ossumism, is shared by
nearly all OF the mo derato party men. and the new
movement mcn are SO nmid as TO be capable Of
nothing but cowering-cowardcc to-day and the |
energy OF despair Tomorrow. Montgomery Blair
Is skulking behind his own ghost and tins morning |
inspired newspaper article which says, speaking |
OF the Impeachment programme that until the |
HERALD, containing the farcical suggestion reachea
him, he had never before heard OF any sucn fo0lish
idea, and that far as IL referred 10 |
han, was utterly false MIR. BiaH never was |
a very good Witness nut he IS about the
only politician IN Washington who Is willing to
admit tnat nc never heard OF the scheme
before Senator Fenton, Senator sumner
and many other gentlemen have been
approached on the SUBJECT and the HERALD
learned 1t through source as unquestionable and
irreproachabie as any an Washington. TWO weeks
ago a Leading democrat remarked that by the h0li-
DAYS the democracy would have programme ready
which the party must either accept or reject. The
man VINO said this Is member OF The democratic
Executive Committee and after all that was said
about Impeachment in quiet corners and democratic
dcns before the publication in the HERALD, and the
senseless rawlings ever since, there can be nc Ques
tiOn tnat this was the contemplated programme.
To-day conservation relgned. Some Of the leading
democrats were angry, .Dut others were only sor-
rowfni. The poor fellows II the House who were
compelled to give the good seats that the strong
SOUND democrats magnt not be compelled to dwell
in the back settlements were anxious and almost
persistent In their inquiries but they were natly
told not 10 talk.
Opinions the Impea chment.
Governor stevenson, of Kentucky when inter-
viewed, was IN The condition which school girls
describe as lawful" Fernando Wood, always calm
and always magnificent even when taken IN
dress and unawares, was inclined to be for
giving, ana would not advise democrats to ''p0oh
pooh,' or deny q thing which had been SO sc.
rously contemplated, and which might still
be acted on. General Banks was unfortunate as
not TO have heard anything on the subject and OF
course an opinion from him was an imposslbility.
Mr. s. s. Cox had been out OF town and knew
nothing except that the democratic committee Is to
meet next Wednesday to decide upon policy.
The early announcement OF the scheme Is
everywhere deprecated as the possible death
OF the plan, but the whole matter will
be determined upon at the meeting which
Is about to be held. Mr.. Sumner, though reserved
on the subject. does not conceal his real feelings
lie says he Is not IN position to advise IN the mat
ter OF impeachment, but II he was a member OF the
House, as nc is OF the Senate, he would not hes-
tate moment In preparing and Offering the ar
uclcs Mi. Sumner comedies with the view |
OF the democrats who have been houiDg |
he could prepare articles against Grant in
every way stronger than those which were pre-.
1erred against Johnson, and this is the way the
matter stands at present The excitement growing
out OF tne disclosures has been intense and no
movement yet developed In the capital has
created such profound and such varied emo.
tons. IL has been the topic OF convevsa.
uon everywhere, but nothing has yet been
developed which shows how the republicans
Will take the movement In regard to the cham
ronship OF the measure in Congress nothing has
been determined, and this VIII be lett to the
democracy. It was intimateI to-day that IL the
scheme is finally determined upon an ar.
ticie VIII be inserted charging the President
with violation OF the army regulations |
under the acts OF Congress, IN employing enliste
men OF the army In inenia pacities at the white
House, while they paid for extra duty services
This, together with the other peculiaritles OF the
charges, shows that the men who have undertaken |
10 defeat Grant will attempt 1t at any and every
hazard.
Sumner's Attempt to Extcrmfnate the Bureau |
OF Internal Revenuc.
In the Senate to morrow Senator Sumner VIII IN.
trOduce his BIN for the determination OF the Inter-
nal Revenue bureau and Its army OF tax gatherers
the first feature OF which will be that mo income
tax shall be assessed on or after the first day OF
January, 1872 but assessments made before such
date shall be collectcd.n
This Is intended to abolish the income tax for
this year, which under the present law could not
be assessed until March, 1872, while It would not
deprive the government OF collecting assessments
unpaid. II has been represented to the Senator
that stamp tax Of seventy five cents per gallon
on spirits Will not yield to the government
as much as is now collected under the bar
rel ia0-ihc tax Of one yer cent on the
sales OF wholesale ana retail deaers-the capacity
tax ana the present stamp tax OF fifty cents per
gallon. Treasury officials, who have made q
careful estimate OF the total amount per gallon COL
iected under the present law, say that 1t does not
fall short Of eighty cents, and MIR Summers bill will
specify that amount. The object In placing the tax |
at This rate to be paid by stamp, Is to simplify the
system or collecting IT, and TO dispense with the |
Official and clerical iorce now required to collect |
the various taxes on this article. Senator Summers
idea is that II the to be derived from inter-
nal taxation Is wholly limited to stamps all the |
business Of the internal revenue system may be |
properly superln'ended In every state by col
iector, dispensing with the services OF at least four
hundred hlgn salaried officials
Reported Opposition to the Reforms in the
Civil Service.
So much feeling is manifested by members OF
Congress relative to the runorcd intention OF the
President TO try the civil service reform programme
determined upon by Mr. Curtis commission with
out asking Tor the passage OF act, that reports
prevail as to opposition intended TO he made
against the passage OF any appropriations that may
be needed for the consummation OF the projected
plan.
The Massacre Of the Students nj Havana.
The most recent intelligence received by the state
Department from Havana SHOWS tnat the barbarous |
action OF the Spanish volunteers there IN the mat
ter OF The medical students who have been killed or
are now in the cnain gang serving out punishment
for the alleged desecraton Of the grave OF the for
mer editor OF the Voz de cuba TO have been very
much worse than even the first reports |
showed It to be. General Banks says
that the House Committee on Foreign |
Affairs Will ke anv af nrns