Year: 1868




MIR. VAN WYCK's REP0RT-IIANCOCK'
ny r.LssRlrs TO


WASHINGTON. March II, 1863


The House Impeachment Managers held two ses-


ons TODAY but they were merely for the purpose OF
deberating on the law points which are likely to be
raised by the counsel for the defense. 1t is under
stood that the Managers informed OF the tactics
that are to he resorted to by r. Johnsons legal adj
visers 1t is limited that the President Will ask Tor
Il davs further extension of time on Monday. This
the Managers will oppose.


Mr.. Johnson was engaged with his counsel during.
the greater portion of the day but they have not yet
decided on the questions which they intend to raise
next Monday.


In the Senate to-day bill for the organization Oh
q territorial government for Alaska was introduced
by Mr. Williams. and referred. At o'clock the Dill
TO exempt certain manufactured articles from Inter
nal tax was taken up. The amendment which the
Committee reported yesterday was adopted. 1t re-
tains tue tax on a number OF articles Two other
amendments were adopted-one repeating the
drawback on imported articles used in manufac-
tures exempted by this BILL and the other imposing
a tax of 81 on every $1,000 worth OF articles
not specifically taxed in existing laws, where the
manufacture amounts to over $4,000 year. An
amendment was adopted, Oh motion OF Mr' van
Wrinkle reducing the tax on refined petroleum Oper
cent Mr. Fessenden then offered an amendment to
allow a drawback upon imported articles used III
shp-building which Mr. Henderson asked further to
amend by applying it to steamboat-bullding also.
This gave rise to spirited debate, i'll which Messrs
Howard and Sherman opposed the proposition ohthe
ground that it would prostrate the copper, roh anu
timber interests of this country. Messrs tessehdeh'
Reyerdv Johnson and Others, advocated the amend
ment and said that without some such relief Ameri-
can shp-building would entirely. No vote was
reached The bill will pass the Senate tomorrow


In the House to-day the bill from the Reconstruc-
ton Committee relieving certain persons from dlsa-
bilites under the reconstruction laws OF Congress-
was debated some time, and finally recommltted 10
the Committee. The bill to extend the time Oh the
Freedman's Bureau was under consideration, Dut
after few speeches had been delivered II was post
poned. The bill to admit Alabama into the Union
was recOmmitted to the Reconstruction Committee
where il will remain for weeks if not for months 1t
was thought necessary to postpone action on TINS
subject as no satisfactory bill be framed at this
time.


Members of the Retrenchment Committee have
misunderstanding in regard to Gen. Van Wycks
report on the whisky frauds in New-iork City. An
attempt was made in the House to-day to have
statement from the Retrenchment Committee in re-
gard to this matter entered on the Journal OF the
House. but owing 20 the absence of Gen. Van Wyck
from the city il was refused until he can be present
He is expected here tomorrow.


The House Military Committee have agreed to re-
port bills authorizing the sale of old Fort Coyngton.
on the Patapsco River, near Baltimore, and OF the
Fort Gratiot reservation, Michigan, except 200 acres
which are TO be used for military purposes. The
reservation is very large and Obstructs the growth
of the town of Fort Huron. They have also agreed
on bill giving the White Hall and Plattsburg Rail-
road Company the right of way through grounds be-
longing TO the United States at Pattsburg, y They
also recommend the gift of 5000 to the widow oil
the late Col Mulligan of Illinois.


The Senate Foreign Affairs Committee considered
the Danish treaty and the treaty for the purchase
of the bay of Samana. They discussed these mat
ters ZIP to the time of adjournment, but no vote was
reached on either of them. The Secretary OF State
is very anxious that some definite action should be
taken on these measures. The Governments inter
ested in these treaties have expressed an earnest
desire that they should be informed of the intention
of the United States Government as soon as possible
Mr. Sumner will endeavor to get them disposed of at
the next meeting 1t is expected that the Committee
will report both treaties adversely.


The Alaska Appropriation was considered by the
Appropriation Committee Very great diversity of
opinion was expressed, and the subject was post
poned to next meeting. The Perkins claim was also
discussed but it not and cannot be decided
until the appropriation is settled one way or the
other.


The Army Appropriation bill was considered and
completed by the Senate Appropriation Committee
to-day and some progress was also made on the
Naval BILL They found after careful examination of
both these bills that the House reductions were very
considerable and that it would be inexpedIent to cut
them down any lower at present The Committee
were anxious to diminish the estimates, but they
found on consultation with the General of the Armies
and the Secretary of War that it could not be done


There appears to DO considerable misapprehension
relative to the exact effect of the bill repeating that
clause of the act of 1867 for the appeal of cases from
the Circuit Courts to the Supreme Court of the
United States, which was passed few
davs ago Under the act of 11S9 appeal in
cases OF habeas corpus from the lower
Courts to the Supreme Court did not lie and the act
of Feb s. 1861 providing for such appeal was passed
to meet the case of the Maryland apprentices. Judge
Trumbnll in his argument, held that even that act
did not give the Supreme Court jurisdiction over the
McCarde cases. But its repeal in the opinion
Of eminent jurists, places the nonjurisdiction
of the Supreme Court beyond all doubt.
The law is not an ex post facto law
so far as the McCardeappeal concerned and it has
no direct bearing on that case. The passage OF the
bill has so far altered the complexion of the appeal
in the opinion of the Justices of the Supreme Bench,
that the deliberations of the Court on it have been
postponed for week.


Washington has political organization known as
the Irish Republican Association mainly composed
of workngmen who served in the army during the
war and have not made this their home. A large
meeting of this Association was held last evening,
and the following resolutions were adopted:


Rd That thanks Of this Association and OF the Irish


Republican Senators and Representatives who have
voluntarily espoused and ably advocated the Of naad citizens
q home and abroad.


Id That Gen r Banhs Of Maaehuses the champion Of