The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-01-09
WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, January I.
The Northwestern Boundary.

lhe House Forelgn Affairs commit
tee have agreed to report bill provid.
ing for the appointment on the part Of
the United States Of a JOINT commission
to fix the boundary line between this
country and the, British possessions
from the Lake of the Woods to the
Rocky mountains. 1t will he remem-
bered that the Presidents message call
ed attention to the fact that it had been
discovered that the boundary line, as at
present established, placed the Hudson
Bay companys forts mile or more
within the United States boundary.
Butler Going for Porter.
1t is understood that Gen. Butler has
two more letters which Admiral Porter
wrote to parties in New York denounc-
ing Grant. These letters are said to
eclipse the one already printed. Butler
says he will make them public in few
days. In the meantime the Admiral's
friends are working zealously for his
confirmation.
Honor for Meth0dfsts.
Bishop Ames, Of the Methodist Epis-
copal church, is mentioned as likely to
be one of the commissioners to San
Domingo. He had lengthy inter-
view with the President this morning
in company with Senator Morton.
The Charges Against Spraguc.
A special committee. appointed to in
vestigate alleged charges against Sena-
tor Sprague, are proceeding with their
investigations. Sprague is confident he
can successfully meet all the charges
brought against him.
The Potomac Open.
The navigation Of the Potomac,
which has been suspended for some
days by ice, is again resumed.
Special Message and Condition Of
Affairs I'm the South.
Early in the session Senator Morton
introduced a resolution calling upon
the President for certain information
respecting the condition of the South.
1t is understood that the President has
finished message to Congress in reply
to the resolution, and that the same
will be sent to the Senate on Monday.
The message will be accompanied by
mass Of reports, documents and facts,
which are in the hands of the Presi-
dent. 1t is thought that resolution
will be introduced providing for the ap-
pointment of special committee by
Congress to investigate the present con-
dition of many of the Southern States,
and the frauds which are charged as
having been committed in the elections
there during the past year.
The Amnesty Question.
The Administration have we'll nigh
abandoned all hope Of securing vote
on amnesty at this session. The
members Of the Reconstruction COM
mittee, whose views were to-day form.
ally solicited, very generally expressed
the opinion that no general measure
relating to amnesty wouh be passed at
this session. Probably all that will be
done will be to pass bill as heretofore,
simply removing the political dsabili.
ties of the persons therein named.
Memorials for such amnesty are pre-
sented almost daily by the dozen.
senator.Elect Vance,
OF North Carolina, was on the floor OF
the House yesterday, and will have to
be included in general or special bill
before his disabilities are removed and
he can take his seat Leading Repub.
licans say that bill for his relief will
not be passed by either House. There
seems to be 3 good deal Of feeling
about it.
Porter's Case.
Although two Executive Sessions
have been held by the Senate since the
recess, the nomination Of Admiral Por-
ter has not yet been brought up and
both his friends and his opponents
seem fearful Of the result. Neither
party seems anxious to force the nomi-
nation to a vote, as the contest is so
close. One party is fighting the House
bill abolishing the grade Of Admiral,
while the other is fighting the nomi
nation Of Porter. Between the two,
it is doubtful if the case Is decided for
some time. From the best informa-
tion to be obtained, there is little doubt
Ifa vote was had now, that he would
be defeated.
Preparations for Big Time.
Large sums of money have been sub
scribed to render the proposed celebra-
ton on the Goth and 2Ist of February
successful Arches are to be erected
over Pennsylvania Avenue and this
thoroughfare will be illuminated on the
nights ofthose days. In addition to fast
trotting horses it is contemplated to
have a procession Of the different trades
and troops of masquers and other pub
lie diversions; and also. to invite the
editors OF the country to visit the city
at that time in order to have grand
reunion Of the press.
The Proccedings Against senator
Sprague.
NEW YORK. January S.-General
Mcdowell has found among the records
Of the department East and forwarded
to Washington the missing papers al
luded to by Secretary Belknap in his
report to the Senate OF the proceedings
against Senator Sprague and other
prominent citizens of Providence, r. l.,
for alleged illegal traffic with rebels and
cotton speculations in Texas during the
late war. Further important develop
ments are expected in consequence of
the discovery Of these documents.
Twenty cars loaded with tea arrived