The New York herald., 1873-12-15

now recognize the difficulties surrounding Union
men in the South in the rushing days of secession,
when there appeared to be little chance OF any
thing surviving OF the Union but Its past history 1t
provides that submission to the de ucto authority
Of any State while the authority and protection OF
the United States were subverted and In abey-
anee, or compulsory service in the rebel state
militia In the early days OF the rebellion, or in the
Confederate army after due service OF notice under
the conscript acts, shall not be held by the Claims
Commission as conclusive evidence oil disoyalty
where a claimants rebellion record is clear in
other respects The bill lastly attempts TO remedy
the yearly and entirely pro to7na disallowance Of
large numbers OF claims for want OF sufficient
proof by requiring that the Claims Commissioners
shall give claimant an opportunity to rebut pre-
sumptions against the claim before reporting it to
Congress- but that having done so the report shall
be anal and not be as now, subject to Gsconsidera,
tion.
Conflicting Demands OF Sections for
Transportation Routes.
From conversations with members from the
South and West who are interested in the problem
or cheap transportation to the seaboaryt, it ap-
pears that strong effort is to be made to prevent
railroad legislation this session. unless aid be given
to some Of the great projects already proposed for
bringing about increased facilities for carrying the
products OF the great Northwest 10 market. The
project upon which the Western and Southern men
propose TO unite, II united action can be brought
about, is the construction OF the Fort st. Philip
Canal and the dredging OF the Mississippi River.
This route, they claim. is the cheapest and the
best and will give to the great Northwest
O market for all her cereals. There Is
strong sectional feeling about the matter,
alf a mt
on broader basis, and claim that all the States
will be benefited, and Representatives should,
therefore, act together IN the matter. One gentle
man remarked to-day that the feeling in the North
west is particularly strong, and they think there
that the railroad and money power OF the Eastern
and Middle States has too long prevented that Sec
tion from receiving any aid whatever. 1t Is appar.
ent that the James River and Kanawha Canal
scheme is to have strong backing by those who
are interested in its success, and that no compro-
mise will be made with the Northwest or South
that will interfere with the carrying on Of this
work. on the other hand the members from
the Mississippi Valley say they will stand firm this
session, and they fail to get what they want they
will renew the fight again next year.
The Chief JustIceship Bouquet.
Mrs. Attorney General Williams was enraptured
when, ten days or so since, she received an ee-
CANT bouquet from Mrs. President Grant, with her
compliments on the nomination OF the Attorney
General as Chief Justice, But while ..the Presi-
dent proposes the Senate disposes and it is doubt
1ul whether the power OF the administration in the
Senate, marshalled by Conkl1ng, can secure the
nomination. Should Williams be rejected or with
drawn it remains to be seen whether the President
will fall back on his original choice. Caleb Cushing.
Fish has been for Caleb from the START, and he may
end his eventful lie as Chief Justice OF the United
States yet. But poor Williamsl
MAZDA me de Noaiiles' Parting Bali.
Madame de Noailles will probably give a grand
ball (Which, heiasi is to be her pour prendre cong
on the 6th OF January. The transfer OF her hus-
band from here to the mission at Rome is promo
tion but they would have preferred remaining here
during the coming season, as they had Just man.
aged to get SO installed as to dispense elegant hos
pltaties.
Cool Kccep ton of the Committee on
Ways and Means by the President.
1t was announced on Friday that on Saturday Mr..
Dawes to visit the White House, at the head OF
the House Committee on Ways and Means, to enjoy
consultation with the President upon
the financial situation. The committee
accordingly repaired on Saturday 70 the
White House, and was ushered into the
office OF The President, who welcomed them
with a grim and sphynx-like smile. He had
evidently read the speeches of Dawes and Kasson,
rejecting on him, and ne was not over cordial; in
deed, he did not even invite the visitors to sit
down. Simply saying that he trusted that the
committee would find "ways and meansr for carry
ing on the government he exchanged the usual
farewell hand-shake, and the committee left,
wondering what they had come for. Going to the
Treasury Department the little Secretary was
equally ceremonious and retentive. But as the
committee was again retreatlng he suggested that
m
now running on half time which invitation they
accepted. The President and his financial agent
Dawes l. Company.
Resume Of the Work Done by the Civil
Rights Convention.
The results OF the late National Civil Rights Con-
vention, neld in this city, are as follows The
adoption OF an address to Congress and the people
IN behalf OF their cause-endorsing Senate bill No.
l. or some Dill equivalent to It.; the organization OF
a National Council OF Civil Rights, consisting OF
one member from each State and Territory. with
an executive committee located in Washing
ton; all existing organizations are to perform
the functions conferred by the Convention; en-
dorsing Senator sumner and all other friends OF
progress; thanking President Grant for his cour-
tesy in receiving the members OF the Convention
and his friendly utterances to them; organizing
Committee on Jubilee to be prepared to celebrate
the passage OF civil rights bill the committee con.
eists OF member from each state and TerTtopyt
appointing a National Historical anl Statistical
Association, to report to the National Executive
Committee OF the Council subjects relating to the
interests OF the ccored race resolutions in favor
oil the independence OF Cuba and endorsing the
call Tor convention to take measures for the
erection, in Washington, OF monument TO the
coored sailors and soldiers who fell In the late
civil war.
Annual Report Of the Librarian of
Congress.
The annual report OF the Librarian OF Congress
exhibits the fact that 12,407 volumes have been
added to the collection during the year closing
December 1. The aggregate number OF books
now in the library liz 258152 volumes besides about
$4,000 pamphlets In the copyright department
there have been 1889 entries made during the
year, and the Librarian has paid into the Treasury
the sum OF $I3,4O4 the receipts from copy
right fees This exceeds the en-
tries OF the year preceding by about
10 per cent. The Librarian reports the accessions