The New York herald., 1871-03-16

the republican party by furnishing in my own per-
son any such argument with no countervailihg
Fith-Recause with these views OF the efficiency
and powers OF the committee my scrv ces would ne
useless ana an not accustomed to undertake TO do
that which feel that have no power successfully
TO accomplish and II Is parliamentary m practice
In the Senate, the chairman OF committee should
be in harmony with the majority who consttutei It,
and there Is no element OF harmony between me and
that democratic party, largely composed OF seces-
sionists, old wings and Know Nothmgs, who are the
majority that constituted this committee.
Strth-Because this committee was brought INTO
being by legislative trick-and not crsdiiape one
jorty OF the House have been thwarted by repuD.
lean minority, oy the aid OF democratic votes from
which proceeding, as republican, desire most
Sepenth-Because the very resolution which
authorized the committee was so framed-and
IN my belief purp0sely-in the interests or
the democratic party that such commit
tee cannot report under the rules OF the
House. In the face Of the democratic opposition and
by their PERMISSION IN more than q year from this
time, the usual power not being inserted in 1t to re-
port at any time, ana being special select commit.
tee 1t cannot under the rules OF the House be called
Ia its turn until after all the standing committees
sentatves took more than year. So tha', without
the leave Of the democrats, such committee could
after rH the end the next Presdena canvass w
Etghu,-Because the passage OF the resolution Is q
seeming disconrtesy to the other branch 9th. o.! the
Legislature, the Senate having taken up an nvestl-
CATION through It's own committee, having pro-
ceeded to very considerable extent In II and made
mlId shows state of crime and horror sufficient to
justify legislative action. The House Is ma.e to
TO perform the work You have undertaken. Wewlll
take 1t out Of your hands" have no fear that YOU
my republican fliends will think for a moment
that any consideration looking to the labor and
fatigue OF such an undertaking IN the heat Of sum-
mer and the height of the yellow fever season IN the
Southern States or the fact that should be drawn
from my home 10 carry on the investigation during
those months, after laboriOus and arduous service
here for more than four months, would deter me II
Ibelieved any good could arise TO the country from
the labor or the exposure. have spent more than
| one summer under Southern sky to give what aid
could in preserving the life OF the country and II
| any good could come OF it would be quite willing
/ to spend another although wnen there before was
master Of the rebellion within my reach and the
scarcely less deadly and venomous yellow fever.
l am compelled TO take this mode TO address
you in declining to serve because the announce
ment of the committee was not made by the
| Speaker until after the vote OF adjournment had
| been taken, and Immediately thereunon his hammer
! fell by which he adjourned the House as 10 pre-
cude the possibility OF resignlng the place thus
attempted to be forced upon me at the time. be-
lieve can demonstrate, even majority OF par
liamentary body can force Massachusetts man of
| a committee at pleasure, that it is quite another
/ thing for the Speaker to force another on COM
! mittee against his consent.
have the honor to be, very truly, your friend and
servant, BENJAMIN f. BUTLER.
| Republican Senatorial Can, us-An Early AG-
| tournament Proposed.
! The republican Senators held another caucus
meeting this afternoon which lasted over four
hours, but resulted in no decisive action on the
QueSlIOu uuucT COHSlueIdtlOu, udHely, WHcCHcT OF
not 1t is advisable to enact bill for the suppression
Of Ku Klux outrages in the South. and, If So what
measures shall be adopted An extreme diversity
| of opinion was manifested but the discussion, in
| which an unusually large number or Senators
/ took part developed o strong probability that
| the majority will tomorrow decide that
is nexpedient to take any action the subject at
! present. and that the Senate should concur in the
! House resolution for an adjournment next week.
Among the Senators opposed to any legislation this
session in regard to the condition Of affairs in the
! South are understood TO be Messrs. Trumbull,
Hamlin, Morrill,, Buckingham, Conkling. Sawyer.
! Kellogg and Robertson. The caucus adjourned
I until ten A. NJ tomorrow.
Southern Opposition to the Internal Revenue
, Law-New Bill for the Collection of Taxes.
| The Commissioner Of Internal Revenue has re-
Gently received very large number Of reports from
officers In the South stating their inability to make
thorough collections OF taxes the spirit
i OF outlawry which exists outside of the large
Cities and especially the neghborhood Of dsril-
eres where combinations exist to prevent the
government officials from collecting the taxes due
from their owners Several Of these letters have
been sent to the Select Senate Committee OF which
Mr. Scott Is chairman, furherance of the investi-
CATION into alleged Southern outrages. Owing to
the difficulties which exist in the proper perform
| ance Of their duties by internal revenue officers a
proposition is made to establish national revenue
police system, which shall be brought into use
for the purpose Of getting rid of just
such difficulties in the way OF the enforce.
ment OF the revenue laws as have been
reported from various Southern localities TO the de-
partment here the law, however, to be applicable to
all sections of the country. The draft OF bill has
already been prepared which, it is understood,
meets with the appreciation Of the President, the
Attorney General, Commissioner Pleasonton and
several other prominent officials, VINO have con-
suited upon this necessity OF the service.
The New Assistant Attorney Gcneral-TronbIe
! Over Major Otto's Successor.
Walter N. Smith, of Mount Vernon. Ohio, recently
appointed Assistant Attorney General under the act
OF February 25 1871 increasing the number of these
assistants in the Department Of Justice, has been
for two years past Solicitor of Internal Rev.
enue, having heen appointed to that position
! on the recommendation of Mr.. DeanO, who was at
That time Commissioner OF Internal Revenue. 1t
| was expected that Mr.. Smith would be appointed
Assistant Secretary of the Interior In place OF Judge
Otto who has occupied the Office for many years.
Since the appointment of Mr.. Smith to the position
! Of Assistant Attorney General Senator Scott ana
others OF the Pennsylvania delegation have been
urging the appointment OF Major d. X. B. Nevln
| Pennsyivanian, to the Office now filled by Judge
Otto. Senator Cameron however II IS stated op
poses the appointment OF Mr. Nevin, and his wishes
Will be regarded in the selection Of Mr. Ottos suc
cessor. The successor Of Mr.. Smith as Solicitor OF
Internal Revenue is William McMichael.
Government Payments to the Pacif, Rail.
/ roads.
The Secretary of the Treasury is now paying to the
Pacific railroads onehaf Of the amount due for gov
ernment business ana Will make no demand for IN.
terest unless required by further legislation The
following correspondence has just taken place.
PHILADELPHIA, March l3, 1871.
/ In consequence OF injurious Measurements that
are beng made relative to the proposed action OF
to request tnat you VIII inform me what construc-
tion the department places upon the clause in the
ate Army Appropriation Dill relative to those roads,
/ under. Very respectfully your Qheilenf seruan1