Year: 1866

Congressional.
NEW York, May IA Washington
special says that the House Committee OF
Banking has under consideration a bill t.
exempt from taxation all government bondi
In possession of the National Banks.
Proceeds Slowly.
The investigation concerning Davis com
Plicity in the assassination plot is proceed
ing slowly.


National Asylum.


Among the important questions to be de-
eided BY the Board of Managers of the Ma
tiOnal Asylum for disabled volunteer SOL
diers are the number of asylums to be es-
tablished and where located, what kind OF
buildings shall be erected, what kind Of
officers shall be appointed, and what their
duties shall be.


Secretary Stanton is of the opinion that
the unclaimed and forfeited pay of the army
which now belongs to this asylum amounts
to nearly 100000.


Claim Agents.


Tho Commissioner of Internal Revenue
has decided that claim agent is one whose
business it is TO prosecute claims in any of
the executive departments OF the govern
ment, or to procure patents, and that per-





cannot be said to make the prosecution of
claims his business, and need not take out
license as claim agent.


Message from the President,


Specials 10 the evening papers say that
the President has sent message to the
House enclosing a communication from
General Grant, asking for the immediate
passage of an army bill, assigning as q
reason for this request, the fact that more
troops are needed on the frontier and at the
South. He also expresses the opinion that
the troops cannot be Withdrawn from the
South with safety for some time TO come.


The Freedmen's Bureau.


The House Committee on tie Freedmen's
Bureau have agreed to report q resolution
for the appointment of Joint Committee of
Congress to investigate the working of the
Freedmen's Bureau systemic travel thro'
the Southern States, 10 take testimony and
report to Congress-


The rumOr of intrigues in which Santa
Anna is concerned, has prompted a general
desire in Washington to have Juarez aided,
but the success of the proposed Mexican
loan is very doubtful.


Communication from General Grant.


WASHINGTON, May 1.-The President
sent message to the House to-day enclos-
.ng the following communication from
Lieutenant General Grant:


HEADQ'Rs ARMIES OF TnE z. s.,


WASHINGTON, D. c., May l8.
Hon. Z. II. Stanton, Secretary of Var:


SIR-In view of the long delay in the
lower house of Congress in agreeing upon
plan for the reorganization of the army
suitable to our present requirements and the
,17sN. E.
duced TO present the matter to you officially
and ask the attention of Congress to it, be-
lieving that when they have the matter
fairly before them, they will do what should
be done speedily.


At the present time settlements are spring
lug up with unusual rapiGity in the district
of country between the Missouri river and
the Pacific Ocean, where heretofore the In
dian was left in undisputed possession.
Emigrants are pushing to those settlements
and to the gold fields of the Rocky noun
tains, by every available highway. The
people aocking to those regions are citizens
Of the United States, and are entitled to the
protection of the government They are
developing the resources of the country to
its great advantage, thus making it our in
terest as well as duty to give them mill
tlry protection. This makes much greater



was ever heretofore required.
A small military force is required in all
the Statesil ilately in rebellion, and it cannot be
foreseen that this force will not be required
for some time to come. II is to be hoped
this force will not be necessary to enforce
the laws, either Stale or National, but the
difference of sentiment engendered by the
great war which has ragged for four years
will make the presence of a military force
necessary to give a feeling of security to
the people. All classes disposed to obey
the laws of the country will feel this alike.
To maintain order the Government has
been compelled to retain volunteers. All
the white volunteers have become dissatis-
fed, and claim the contract with them has
been violated by retaining them after the
war was over. By reason of dissatisfBction
they are no longer of use, and every one
now remaining in the service might as well
be discharged at once. The colored volun-
teer has an equal right to claim his dis
charge, but as yet he has not done so. How
long will existing laws authorize the reten-
ton of this force even ifthey are content to
remain The United States Senate passed
promptly bill for the reorganization Of the
army, which in my opinion is as free from
objection as any great measure could pos
sibly be, and it would supply the minimum
requisite forces. 1t gives but few thous-
and additional men over the present organ
izatior, but gives large number of sddi-
tional battalions. The public service of
guarding routes over the plains and giving
protection in the Southern States demand
the occupation of a greater number of
posts. For many ofthem a small company
Is Just as efficient as one with more men
would be. The bill before Congress, or the
one that has passed the Senate, gives an in
creased number of companies by diminish
ing the number Oi rank and file of each
company. 1t is an exceedingly appro-
pirate measure in this particular, for it pro-
vides for the increase when occasion de-
mands more men. The company is the
smallest unit of organization that can be
used without materially injuring discipline
and efficiency. A belief that Congress
would act promptly on this matter if their
attention was called to it, has induced me
10 respectfully ask your attention to it. If
you agree with me in this matter, would
also ask if you deem it proper that this,
with such endorsement as you may be
pleased to make, be laid before Congress
through the Speaker Of the House.


Very respectfully,


Your obedient servant,


U. S. GRANT, Lieut-General.


Union UOhveHuOn.