-
to establish either its truth or its fidgety od.
Arms could not be removed from one
armory or arsenal to another by Secretary
ployd, without the knowledge and, active
participation of the officers and attaches
of the Ordinance Bureau. At its head was
Col. Craig, an officer as loyal and faithful
ea any who belonged to the army. It was
through his agency alone that the arms
could have been removed, and it is certain
that had he known or suspected treache
ry on the part of the Secretary. he would
instantly have communicated this to the
President, lo order that it might be de
feated. an,
THS SOUTHSTUS,AND SOTITHITSSTESS eaves
=LIVED LESS TWOS SUSIE QUOTA.
This committee made their Bret report
to the Rouse on the 9th January, 1861
(Cong. Globe, p. 294 ; Rouse Journal. p
156). With this they present two tables,
Nos. 2 aad 3, communicated to them by
Mr. Holt, then the Secretary of War, from
the Ordnance Bureau, exhibiticg the
number and description of arms distribu
ted since the first January, 1860, to the
States and Territories and at what price."
Whoever shall examine table No. 2 will
discover that the Southern and South
western States received much lees in the
aggregate instead of more than their quo
ta of arms to which they were justly enti
tfed under the law for arming the militia.
Indeed, it is a4emarkablo fact that neither
Arkansas, Delaware, Kentucky,
ana, North Carolina nor Texas received
any portion of these arms, though they
were army muskets of the very best qual
ity. This arose simply from .their own
neglect, because the quota to which they
were entitled would have been delivered
to sac's of them on a simp'e application
to the Ordnance Bureau. The whole num
ber of muskets distributed among all the
States, North and South. was just 8 423.
Of these the Southern and Southwestern
States received only 2,091, or lees than
one-fourth. Again, the whole number of
long range rifles of the army caliber, dis
tributed among all the States in the year
1850, was 1,728 Of these, viz of the S )utti
ern and SauthweAern 'States. Kentucky,
Louisiana, Misskeippi. North Carolina,
Tennessee and Virginia received in the
aggregate 758, and the remainderof these
States did not receive any. -
Thus it appears that the aggregate of
rifles distributed in 1860. was 10,151, of
which the Southern and Southwestern
States received 2 849 or between one third
and one fourth of the whole number.—
Such being the state of the facts, well
might have Mr. Stanton observed in mek
ing this - report, much to 'his credit for
candor and fairness, `• there ire a good
deal of rumors, and speculations, anti mis
apprehension as to the true Petite of flea
in regard to this matter." (Cm. Globe,
1860-61, p. 294). The report of the earn.
mitteo and the ce.ininn expressed br its
chairman before the House, it might have
been supposed, would satisfy Gen. Scott,
that none of these muskets or rifles had
been purloined by Secretary Floyd. But
not so. The ex-President had stated in
his letter to the NatiDnal. Intelligerwr, of
Nov. 7, 1862, that " the Southern States
received, in 1860, less instead of more than
the quota of arms to which they were en
titled by law" This statement was found
ed on the report of the committee which
had now been brought fully to his entice.
He, notwithstanding, still persisted in his
error, and in his letter to the National In
telligencer of the 2d Dec., 1862. he says:—
" This is moat strange cantrasted with in
formation given to me bust year, and a tel
egram just rt Weed from Washington and
a high offresr, not of the Ordnarae De
partment, in these words and figures:—
' Rhode Island, Delaware and TPX4B had
not drawn 'at the end of eighteen sixty
(1860) their. anoint quotas of arms for
that year ,, and Massaehusetts, Tennessee
and Kentucky only in part. Virginia,
South Carolina, Georgia Florida, Atli:tame.
Louisiana, Mississippi and Kansas were, by
the orders of the Secretary of War, sup
plied with their quotas for eighteen sizty
one (1861) in advance, and Pennsylvania
and Maryland in part.' " It is in vain
that the General attempts to set up an
anonymous telegram against the report of
the committee. From what source did he
derive the information given to him last
year? And who was the author of the tel;
egram? He does not say in either case.-- 1
Surely before he gave this telegram to the
world, under the . sanction of his own
name, he ought to Lase a_sel;rtained from
the Ordnance Bureau whether 'it was true
nr false. Tais he might easily and speedily
have done, had he been careful to present
an authentic statement. There is a mys
terious vagueness about this telegram cd
culated, if not intended, to deceive the
casual reader into the belief that a great
number of these arms had been distribu
ted among the enumerated States em
bracing their quotas not only for 1860 but
for 1861. From it no person cou,d, imag
ing that these eight States in the :Tare
gate had received fewer muskets and rifles
than would be required to form two full
regiments.
The next subject investigated by the
committee was, had Secretary Flo• d s-nt
any cannon to the Southern States ? This
was a most important inquiry. Our colurn
biads and 32-pounders were at the time
considered equal, if not superior, to any
cannon in the world. It was easy to as.
certain whether he had treacherously or
otherwise, sent any of these formidable
weapons to the South. Had' he done this
it would have' been impossible to conceal
the fact and escape detection. The size
and ponderous weight of these-• cannon
rendered it impracticable to remove them
from the North to the South without the
knowledge of many outside - persons. in
addition to those connected with the Ord
nance Bureau. The committee reported
on this subject on the 18th of February,
1561. There was no evidence before them
that any of these cannon had actually
been transmitted to the South. In
deed, this was prevented. From their
report, however, it does appear that Sec
retary Floyd had attempted to do this on
one occasion a very short time before he
left the Department, but that he had
failed in this attempt in Consequence or a
e-mntermand of his order issued by Mr.
Holt, his successor in the War Depart
ment.
PITTAIWROEI CANNON.
It requires tat a few words to explain
the whole, transaction. Secretary Floyd.
on the 29th December. 1800, without the
knowledge of the President, ordered
Captain (now Colonel) Maynadier. of the
Ordnance Bureau, to cause the guns neoes•
eery for the armament of the forte on.Sbip
Island and at Galveston to be rent to those
places. This order was given verbally and
not in the usual form. It was not record
ed; and the forts were far ft om being pre
pared to receive their armaments. The
whole number of guns required for both
forts.according to the statement of the En
gineer Department to Capt. Ilaynadier,
was one hundred and thirteen columbiads
and eleven 32 pounders. When late in
December. 1860, there 'were about to be
shipped at Pittsburgh for their destina
tion, on the steamer Silver Wave. a com
mittee of gentlemen from that city Brat
brought the facts to the'notice of Presi
dent Bachanan. The consequence was
that, in the language of the report of th e
Committee : " Before the order of the late
Secretary of War, (Lloyd) bad been fully ex.
coated by the actual shipment of said guns
from Pittsburg, it was countermanded by the
p t Secretary." Thls prompt proceeding
elicited a vote of thanks on the 4th of Jun
ary, 1861, from the Select and Common Coun•
oils of that aim "to the President, the At•
torney-General (Black), and the Acting se—
cretary of Wu (Holt )"
I t i s of this transaction, so clearly explain
ed by the Committee in February, 1861, that
a nen t S co tt, so long after as the Btb of
November, 1862, speaks in the language
which we again quote : Accidentally learn
ing, early in Marsh, that under this posthu
mous order (of Secretary Floyd) the s hip ment
of these guns Led commented. I communicated
the fact to Secretary Bolt (sating for Secre
tary Cameron) just in time to defeat. the bob.
bery." This statement is plain and sap l o w
The period of the general's alleged comment
cation to Secretory Holt is precisely fixed. It
was in March, aft er tie close of Mr. Boob
anan's admioistrat Soo, and whilst Mr. Holt
waft noting for S cemetery Cameron, who had
'not yet taken Pas session of the Deportment.
This was just in tidies to prevent the "posthn
mous " order of 8 ecstasy Floyd from beta,
earned into exectaton. Why does the General
italicise the word. "posthumous?" Perhape
be did not undtriatind its signification. If
, this word has any meaning as applicable to
the subject, it is that Mr. Floyd had issued
the order to Captain Maynadier after his
office had expired. Be this as it may, the
. object, is palpable. It was to sl ow that Mr.
Buchanan had suffered his sdininietration to
terminate, leaving the "posthuntous" order
of Governor Floyd in full force until after Mr.
Lincoln's accession, and that it would even
then have been carried into f xecution but for
the general's lucky interposition.
01INZIAL SCOTT'S 1311T0111102D CLAIN TO TIES
eIItDIT OP PRITIOVIIIO TEMP lIIIIPMIST TO
THE SOUTH
The general in his letter to the National In
telligence, of 2 1 December, 1862, attempts to
muse this deplorable went of memory to the
prejudice of Mr. Buchanan Whilst 'Anew!.
edging his error in having said that the conn•
termed of Mr. Floyd's order was in March,
instead of early in the previous January, he
insists that this was an immaterial mistake,
and still actually claims the credit of having
prevented the shipment of the cannon. "An
immaterial mistake!" Why, time was of the
very essence of the charge against Mr. Buch
ann•,. It was the alleged delay trom January
till March in countermanding the order,
which afforded any pretext for an assault en
his administration. After his glaring mis-
take had been exposed, simple justice, not to
speak of pasensnimity,..would have required
that he should retract his error in a very dif
ferent spirit and manner from that which ho
his employed.
It is due to Colonel Maynadier to give his
own explanation for having obeyed the order
of Speretary Floyd. In his letter to the Pot
ter Committee of the House of Represents•
tivzs, dated 3d of February, 1862, he says:
"In truth it never entered mg mind at this
time (20th of December, 1860,) that there
could be any improper motive or object in the
viler, for on the question of union and Recas
t/ion Mr. Floyd was then regard d throughout
the country as a strong advocate of the Union
and opponent of secession. Re had recently
published, over his own signature, in a Rich
mond paper, a letter on the• subject, which
gained him high credit at the North for his
boldness in rebuking the pernicious views of
many in his own State."
REMOVAL OE OLD MVSKILTII.
The committee, then, in the third place,
extended back their inquiry into the circum
stances under which Secretary Floyd had, a
year before, in December, 1859, ordered the
removal of one fifth of the old percussion and
flint-lock muskets from the Springfield ar
mory, where they had accumulated in Inc n
yenient numbers, to five Southern arsenals.
The/ committee, after examining Colonel
Craig, Captain Maynadier, and other witness
es, merely reported to the Rouse the testi
mony they had taken . . without in the slightest
degree implicating the conduct of Secretary
Floyd. Indeed, this testimony is wholly in
consistent with the existence of any improper
motive on bis part. lie bottled the order to
Colonel Craig (December 29, 18594 almost a
year before Mr. Lincoln's election, several
months before his nomination at Chicago, and
before the Democratic party had destroyed
its prospect.; of success by breaking up the
Charleston: Convention. Besides, Secretary
Floyd was at the tome, as be had always been,
an epee and avowed opponent of seceseipu.
Indeed, long afterward, when the querion
had assumed a more serious aspect; we are
informed. ne already stated by Captain May
nedier, that he had in a Richmond paper
boldly rebuked the advocates of this perni
einus doctrine. The order and all the pro
ceedince under it were duly recorded. The
arms were not to he removed in haste. but
from time to time, as may be most suitable
for economy and transportation," and they
were to ho distributed among the arsenals,
in proportion to their respective means of
proper stornge."- Alt w is openly transacted,
and the order was carried into execution by
the Ordnance Bureau according to the usual
course of administration, without any refer
ence to the President.
THEIR rALCE
The United States had on hand 439,554,
env 3)0,000 of these muskets. They were in
every respect inferior to the new rifle muskets,
with which the army had for some years been
suppled They were of the old caliber of
60 1"0 of an inch, which had been chanced
in 1855 to that of 58 100 in the new rifled
muskets It was 105 000 of these arms that
Secretary Floyed ordered to he sent to the
five Southern arsenate " 65,000 of them
were percussion ninetets of the caliber of
69-100. end 40 000 of thiv caliber altered to
percussion." Bi the same order 10,000 of
the old perouision rifles of the, caliber. of
54 100 were removed in these arsenals. These
cmislitnte the 115 000 extra muskets, and
rifles, with all their implements and ammu
nition, which. according to General Scott's
allegation nearly three years thereafter, had
been sent to the South to furnish arms to the
future ineurgents. We might suppose from
this description, emt racing "ammunition,"
powder and ball, though nowhere to be - found
except in his own imagination, that the se
cessionists were just ready to commence the
civil war. His sagacity, tong after the fact,
puts to shame the dullnees of the Military
Committee. Whilst obliged to admit that the
whole proceeding was ilncially recorded. he
covers it with an air of suspicion by asserting
that the transaction was " very quietly oon•
ducted." And yet it was openly conducted
according to the prescribed forms, and mast
have been known at the time to a large natn•
bee of persons, including the General himself.
outside either of the War Departrrient, the
Springfield armory, or the Southern arsenals.
In truth, there was not then the least motive
for concealment, even had this been possible.
• The general pronounces these Muskets and
rifles to have bffen of an "extra" quality. It
may therefore, be' proper to state from the
testimony what was true character.
In 18.57 proceedings had been instituted by
the War Department. under the sot of 3d of
'March, 1825, "to authorize the sale of un•
serviceable ordnance. arms and military
stores." [4 Statute at large, 127.] The in
specting officers under the act condemned
190,000 of the old muskets " as unsuitable
for the public service," and recommended
that they be sold. In the spring 0f.1859.
50.000 of them were offered at public sale.
"The bids received." says Colonel Craig,
" were very unsatisfactory, ranging from
124 cents to $2 00, except one bid for a
small lot for $3 50. In nubmitting them to
the Secretary I recommended that none of
them be accepted at le.s than $2 00." An
effort wl.s then made to dispose of them at
private sale for the fixed price of $2 60. So
low was the estimate in which they were
held, that this price could not be obtained,
except for 31,610 of them in parcels. It is a
Curious fact, that althenrh the State of Loui
siana had purchased 6.000 of them at $2 60.
she refused to take more than 2 600. On
the 6th of July, 1839. Mr. H. U. Font pur
chased a large lot of them at $2 60 each,
payable in ninety days; but In,the mean
time he thought better of it.. and like the
State of Louisiana, failed to comply with his
contract And Hr. Delnap whose bid at $2 16
for 100,000 of them intended for the Sardinian
government had been accepted by the Settee
tary, under the impression it was $2 50, re
fused to take them at this price after the mis
take had •been corrected. Colonel,Craig, in
speaking of these muskets generally, both
those which had and bad not been Condemned.
te•tiied that "it is certainty advisable to get
rid of that kind of arms whenever we have a
sufficient number of others to supply their
places, and to have all.our small arms of one
caliber. The ne w gun is rifled. A great many
of those guns (diet lecke), altered to perms
sloe, are not strong 'enough to rifle.. and
therefore they are an inferior gun. They are
of a different caliber from those now manu
factured by the government." •
Had the Cotton States at the time deter
mined upon rebellion, what an opportunity
they last of supplying themselves with these
condemned Wee; muskets and rifles" of
General Scott. . ,
OPINION CP NS BOLT /II WIZARD TO THS MAJ..
NIS IN WHICH PSSAIDZST BIICSANAZ pal•
DUCTID THII ADMINISTSATIOE.
In opposition to the strictures of General
Scott upon Jlr. Buchanan's administration, it
may be pardonable to state the estimate in
which it was held by Mr. Holt, the Secretary
of War. No man living had better opportu—
nities than himself, of forming a just judg
meat of its conduct, especially in regard to
military matters. Besides; le respect to
these, he had been in constant (Metal corn
munication with General Scott from the first
of January. 1881, until the inauguration of
President Lincoln. He bad previously been
Postmaster-General from the deetsase of his
peedecesscr. Governarßrown. in Merch,lBs9.
until the lest day of December. 1880, when he
was appointed Secretary of likr, at, this re.
fled the most Important and resp.insible posi
tion in the Cabinet. In this lie continued
until the end of the administratirei. Is his
customary letter of resignation addressed to
Mr. Buchanan, immediately before the advent
of the new administration, and now on lie in
the Stet* Department, he did not congas him
self to the usual retains in each cases, but
has voluntarily added an expression of his
opinion of the administration of which he had
been so long a member. He says that:
"In thus terminating our official relations,
I avail myself of the occasion to e,xprees to
you my heartfelt gratitude for the confidence
with which, in this and other high position: , ,
you have honored me, sad for the firm and
generous support which you-have constantly
extended to me, amid the arduous and per
plexing duties which I have been called to
perform. In the full conviction that your
labors will yet be crofned by the glory that
belongs to an enlightened statesmanship and
to an unsullied patriotism. and with sincerest
wishes for your personal happiness, I remain
moat truly, your friend. .1. Hoer."
It is fair to observe that the policy of Presi
dent Lincoln toward the seven Cotton States
which had needed before his inauguration,
was, in the main, as conservative and for
bearing as that of Mr. Buchanan. No fault
can be justly found with his inaugural ad
dress, except that portion of it derogating
from the authority of decisions of the Supreme
Court. This was doubtless intended to shield
the rts,lntion of the Chicago platform. pro.
hibiting slavery in Territories, from the Dred
Scott decision. It cannot be denied that this
had at the time an unhappy influence upon
the Border States, because it impaired the
hope of any future compromise of this vital
qnPstion.
President Lincoln specifies and illustrates
the character of his inaugural in his nutlet
(pent message to Congress of th• 4th of July,
1861. Ile says: "The policy ch. son looked
to the exhaustion of all peaceable measures.
before a resort to any stronger ones. It
sought to hold the public places and property,
not already wrested from the government., and
to collect the revenue. relying for the rest on
tim., discussion and the ballot box. It prom
ised a continuance of the mails at government
expense to the very people who were resisting
the government, and it gave repeated pledges
against any disturbance to any of the people
or any of their rights. Of all th it a President
might constitutionally and justifiably do in
such a case, everything was forborne without
which it was possible to keep the government
on foot "
The polioy thus announced, whilst like that
of Mr Buchanan, was cf a mill more forbear
ing character. Nay,. more ; the administra
tion of Mr. Lincoln deliberated. and at one
time, it is believed, bad resolved, on the ad
vice of General Scott, to wittniriw the troops
under M•jsr Anderson from the harbor of
Charleston, although this had been reputedly
and' peremptorily refused by the preceding
Administration. If sound policy bad-not en
joined this forbearing course, it would have
been dictated by necessity. because Ceagreas
had adjourned after having deliberately re
fused to provide either men or means for a
defensive. mush less an aggressive movement.
The policy thus announced by Mr. Lincoln,
nnder the circumstances, was the true policy.
It was the only 'policy which could present a
reasonable hope of preserving and confirming
the Border States in their allegiance to the
government. It was the only policy which
could by possibility enable these States -to
bring back the seceded Cotton States into the
Union It was the only policy which ceuld
cordially unite the Northern people in the
suppression of rebellini, ■hould they b' com
pelled to resist force by force for the preser
vation of the Constitution and the Union. It
was, however, rendered impossible to pursue
Ibis conservative policy any longer after the
government of the Confederate Cotton States,
on the 13th of April. 1861, had commenced
the civil war by the bombardment and cap
lure of Fort Sumpter. Its wisdom has been
vindicated by the unanimous and enthusiutic
uprising of the Northern people, without dis—
tinction of party, .10 suppress the rebellion
which had thus bees inaugurated.
General News.
One hundred and fifty pardons of th•
$.20 000 class were granted on Wednerday.
Henry Ward Beecher. Daniel S Dick
inson and Benjamin F. Butler •iaited the
President on Wednesday. A beautiful
trio.
The New York World states the month
ly receipts of the Fenian Brotherhood, up
to the time of the split.. as 1150,000. and
the total receipts daring the past seven
years at $.5.000,000. . •
Gen. Grant has ordered the discharge of
all civilians, not employed as clerks, from
the army.
Oen. Spinner has received another do
nation toward liquidating the public debt.
It is believed to honestly emanate, as it
purports, from a very poor person, and
consists of only one cent. It has been
paPsefi to the credit of the United States
as tormtlly ai if it were a million dollars.
There is great excit•ment in Oregon
over the diseovery of rich placers at Big
Beni. One bugger found there was worth
$4 000.
Since the 11th of March last the num
ber of Major Generals honorable di•eharg
ed is 10. resigned 22. total 32 Number of
BriasdiPr Generals mustered out 78 ; re
signed 55 ; died 4 ; total 137. Total of
both' 10.
The rival Fenian organisstions in New
York continue to receive contributions
from their respective adherents, and to
carry on the campaign eg ►inst each other
with vigor. Each side issues manifestoes
accusing the other of treason.
The Kentucky• Senate has passed the
House bill removing disabilitiea from those
engsged in the rebellion. The House has
slap passed a bill pardoning persons who
have committed treason spinet tbe Com
mon Wealth.
Thefioutbern Congressmen in Washing
ton have had a meeting and resolved to
go home immediately.
Gov. Bramlette has recommended the
Kentucky L•gielature to srmnesty all
persons indicted for treason in the State
courts.
The Judiciary Committee of the House
of Representatives have agreed to report
a bi 1 striking out the word "white" from
the ci'y charter of Washington and giving
the negro the right of voting.
Capt. West,keeping the Old Capitol, has
been sentenced to he cashiered.ror extend•
lag "unusual_courtesies " to Wirts, while
in his charge.
It is said there will be groat resistance
to giving Hrs. Lincoln the fAoo.ooo,which
long John Wentworth. from Chicago. is
urging before the Lincoln Committee. The
proposition has re-aronred the thousand
and one scandals in everybody's mouth
before the death of Mr. Lincoln.
Some men got into a row in Boston last
week, and a yonag man who was walking
on the opposite side of the street was
killed by a pistol .shot fired by one of
them.
Offer 20.000 bales of cotton have been
stolen at various rat!road mints in the
South.. The government' officers are in
vestigating the matter. If there is any
cotton left the officers will put the pro-
ceeds in their pockets.
During the war there were twenty Con
federate privateers on the seas, at various
times. During a little more than four
years they captured a total - ,of '275 met..
chant cowls. of an segregate toning* of
about 1,000,000 tons. Themajority of the..
ve4sels were burnt or destroyed.
The Tennessee Legislature have refused
to allow negroex to testify in the courtg of
that State Gen. Fisk, under irstsuetions
from the War Department, has ordered
that all cues in which negro testimony hi
involved shall be brnught before the
Freedmen's Bureau. Between Gen. Fisk
and Parson Brownlorr. the people of Ten
nessee must hate a happy time
6rit 0 bailer.
THURSDAY. DEC. 21, 1865.
A Damoce►vtc President, according to
the views of spate would-be leaders of
public opinion, Is a Man who selecti all
his ofaufis from Abe opposition, who re
tains in his employ some of the most odi
ous enemies of our party, who praises the
Constitution with his pen and lips and
violates it almost every day, who dictates
to State Legislatures and Conventions
what they shall do, and who, while he fa
vors the just representation of each State,
has not the courage to openly urge it up
on Congress. It may Le that this - is De•
mecracy in these times, but what would it
have been thought five years, or, even a
year, ago ?
Tna eleventh chapter of Mr. Buchan.
an's book, which we print this week, is
the last extended extract we shall make
from its pages. We need make no excuse
to our readers for copying at so much
length from the ex President's vindio
lion. For over four years the leading
charges of the Republicans spinal the
Democratic party have been based upon
the alleged acts of Mr. Buchanan's Ad
ministration, and now that all their asser
tions are met in such a straight-forward,
manly and convincing manner, we shall
VP if they will be as prompt to retract as
they were eager to circulate them. We
We were not a supporter of Mr. Buchan.
an's during his term of office, and have
never been one of his specially warm ad.
wirers., but justice compels us to acknowl
edge that his vindication of his course
during the exciting days just preceding
the outbreak of the war, is complete and
unanswerable. The Republican papers
that have undertaken to criticise the book
make no attempt to refute any of his
statements or answer his arguments. The
work is an admirable campaign`document,
and we hope it will be printed in a cheap
form, for general circulation.
CO NU 2 *BSI° NA L.
In the House, on Wednesday of last
week, a resolution proposed by Mr. Farns
worth, of Illinois, declaring negro soldiers
justly entitled to the right of suffrage,was
referred to the Judiciary Committee,
which is expected to report.in its favor.—
The Judiciary Committee was instructed
to consider the expediency of reporting
an amendment to the Constitution pro
viding that no State uhall make a distino
tion in theiranebise on account of color.
A resolution was adopted directing the
committee on the death of President Lin
coln to take into consideration the expe
diency of completing the Washington
Monument, and dedicating it to the mem
cries of both Washington and Lincoln.
The Rona*, on Thursday, adopted s re* ,
°lotion that Congress adjourn from Dec.
20 to Jan. 9—thereto being 90 to 67. Bills
were passed appropriating $30.000 to re•
furnishing the White House.and $15,440,.
000 for the payment of invalid and other
pensions.. A resolution for printing 20,000
extra copias (instead of 250,000 as first
proposed) of Gen. Grant's report was pass
ed. Mr. Henderson, of Oregon, offered a
resolution that treason is a crime and
ought to be punished, which the House
adopted by a unanimous vote-153 yeas.
A resolution was passed to inquire into
' the expediency of establishing a National
Bureau of Education, without limit of race
or color. A resolution was adopted-sub
stantially the same as the latter clause of
the Stevens' resolution rejected by the
Senate, providing that all papers relating
to claimants from the rebel States, be re
ferred without debate to the Joint Com
mittee of Fifteen, and that no persons be
admitted as representatives from such
States till the final report of that Commit
tee.
In the Senate, on Friday, Mr. Stevens'
resolution was called up, and after being
amended by making it concurrent instead
of joint, and by omitting the last clause,
which provided that until the report of
said committee, no member from the late
ly rebellious States should be received in
either House, was adopted—Yeas 33. Nays
It. In the House Mr. Raymond rose to
a question of privilege to present the cre
dectials of the members from Tennessee.
After a brief debate they were referred to
the Select Committee on the so-called
'Confederate States by Yeas, 126; Nays, 41.
A resolution was subsequently adopted,
providing that, until otherwise ordered,
Mr. Maynard and the other representatives
from Tennessee be invited to take seam in
the Hall of the House.
No session of either House was held on
Saturday. The Senate, on Monday, passed
the House bill appropriating $3O 000 to re
furnish White House. Mr. Doolittle offered
a bill to allowpersons in certain treason oases,
to act as grand and petit juror., notwith- -
standing they may have formed - opinions
on the matters in question. ;The abject is
to secure a trial of Jefferson Davis and
others in the. civil courts. Resolutions
were adopted of respect to the memory of
President Lincoln, and directing memori
al ceremonies on the 12th February. E
M. Stanton, Secretary of War, has been
selected to deliver the eulogy upon the
occasion. Mr. Price, of lowa, offered a
resolution in the Howie, which was re
ferred to the Reconstruction Committee.
to amend the Constitution by excluding
rebel representatives till their States hare
repudiated the rebel 'debt, assumed the
National debt, and atiendoned claims and
compensation for slaves. A resolution
inquiring why Jeff. Davis has not been
tried fOr treason was laid over. A resolu
tion opposing the extension of the elec.
five franchise to persons in the States by
the President or Congress was tabled by
111 to 46. Mr. Hill, of Indiana, intro•
duced a resolution that the act of July
1862, prescribing
_the test oath, is of bind
ing force, and should in no instance be
dispensed with. The oath requirM every
person holding office under tbe Federal
Government, to swear that 'they have nev
er given voluntary aid to the rebellion. A
motion to table this was voted down by
32 to 126, and the resolution• was then
passed. _
The Senate resolution on the death of
President Lincoln was agreed to, and a
bill to pay Mrs. Lincoln $26,000 was passed
after a motion to Increase the sum to
$lOO,OOO bad been negatived. A resole•
lion by Mr. Alley. of Mass., cordially ap
proving the resOntmendation of the See-
rotary of - the Treasury for a contrac
the currency, was - adopted by 144 t
Tbad Stevens, the Republican les
the House, made a lengthy speech
subject of reconstruction, in whi.
took the ground that the Southern
should be treated as conquered ten
for many years to come. His obis'
lion to their recognition u States a
to arise from the fear that they
with theDemocratio party hereaft -
give it control of the Government.
GIN. OR iNT*II ItRPORT OW TU w MI
A 'FAS it 4 IN TUX ROOTH.
Gen. Grant has inade en official
of his Southern tour, which was set
Congress on Tuesday, where it ere
very considerable sensation. The
oak were chagrined beyond all des
at the views expressed in - the d
and a eorrespondent of the New York -
Post says Mr. Sumner rose and pron ttneeil
it " only paralleled by Pierce's Gauge
on Kansas, i ' a sentiment which, a rding
to Abolition ideas, is not very corn limen
tary. The Ventral attys be was every
where received with tokens of nal
respect, and none were more fa and in
such manifestations than the lea erg in
the late rebellion.. The disconten who
staid at home ditring the war. a d the
women are the North's bitterest e emies.
The labor question is still in avor settled
f
oondition. A larenmsjority of the epees
are in comparative idleness, and nearly
all refuse to make or renew coot eta till
after Christmas. In some !mall ies the
negroes religiously believe a genera' di
vision of 'property is to take placelat that
time, and a segue expectation o some
thing of this sort prevailed near! every
where. They bave'been strengthened in
this belief by the eXpress or implied prom •
ice of those having them in charge. In
too msny instances, it is !eared, t hey are
the greatest hindrance in the work of re - -
construction. All men of standing and
influence were outspoken in favor of com
plying with any demands the P esident
might consider necessary for their res•
toration. Slavery, State righteiand se
cession they admit to be settled against
them irrevocably and forever. their de
sire now, is to return to the Union in fact
u well as to name, and devote tb
of their lives to repairing the
war. Gen. Grant's observations
him to the belief that the prof,
future loyalty and good behayio
part of the Southern people a
and sincere. If he adheres to tli'
opinion, the Ridietl batteries wil
opened upon him in fall force.
'A LAVERY FOLLY ABOLIIIBRO.
The Secretary of State has issned a pro
clamation announcing that Mil, Amend
ments to the Federal Constitution forever
prohibiting slavery. within , thil United
States, have been ratified by nip Legisla
tures of the States of Illinois, Ithode Is
land, Michigan, Maryland, N w York,
West Virginia , Maine , Kansas, assacitu•
setts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, hie. Xis
pour!, Nevada, Indiana, Louisia a, ifinne
ante. Wisconsin , Vermont, Ten eEsee, Ar
kansas. Connecticut, New l ampobire,
South retrolins, Alabama. North Carolina
and Georgia, making twenty-seven in all.
He claims thit there are thirty-six States
in the Union (wherein be differs from the
radical element of lis party), and as the
tame c)nstitute threc/ourths of the
whole, in bis.opinion the amendments
WING been legally adopted. They are as
follows : .
Art. 13, Sea. 1. , Neither slavery nor in
voluntary servitude except as a punish
ment •of crimp, whereof 'the party shall
have been duly convicted, shall 'exist with
in the United Slates or any place subject
to their jurisdiction.
Sed. 2. Congress shall nave power to
enforce this article. by 'appropriate legisla
tion.
Tn. PRZBIDZICT AND CONORZ , —Several
Senators and Representatives, he .Tribune
rays, who lately had cony. tions with
the President, state that the President
"does not intend to force an' , issue with
Congress, but 'to abstain froin whatever
might lead to a conflict between the Le-,
gislative and the Executive branches of
the Government. A more cordial feeling
is gaining ground and it is expected, that
a good understanding will be Orstserved."
In other words, if the Tribune' is to be be.
lieved, one or the other aide is going to
bank down, and one thing is sure, it will
not be the radicals.
Ws presume there wilt be no more pam
phlets published, mocking a tax-ridden
people, by asserting that a national debt
ifs national blessing. 'President Johnson
disposes of this flippant assertion in the
following sentence of his message :
"No favored o'ass should demand free
dom from assessment and the tares should
be so distributed as not to fall unduly on
the poor. but rather on the accumulated
wealth of the country. •We should look
at the National debt just as it is—not ab a
Natiroal blessing, but as a heavy burden
on the industry of the country, to be dis
charged without unnecessary delay.",
IT requires the assent of three•fourths
of the States to ratify an amendment to
the Federal Constitution. •The radicals
are urging the Southern States to act in
their capacity as such, in order to carry
the constitutional amendment. While thus
reoognizing their Shtehood. they refuse
to allow their members to take seats in
Congress. They are St , . tea enough to as
sent in changing the 'fundamental law of
the land, but cannot be permitted to act
as States in Congress
MAD. &cycle pitched into the Rev.
Henry Ward Beecher the ot t ber day for
the alleged fall from grace of tlos latter on
the subjects of radicalism andikellfire. In
view of the bitterness, '
malignancy and
uncharitable spirit of old Stevens, his
friends (if be has any) must hope that
Beecher's. doubts touching the reality of
hell fire and the eternal punishment of
the wicked are well founded.
Purls are now rapidly dividint in the
House of Repreeentntives, at Washington,
into Unionists and Disunionist.. The
Unionists, composed of all the Democrats
and a few Rapublicans, polled 57 votes pa -
Friday last, and tare Increasing ;.the Dir•
unionists, led by Stev.n., and including
our member, Mr. Scofield, over 90, kut
they are decreasing.
i•Unhoppy he. who from the first of joys,
Society, out off, is left alone
Amid the warld of death "
Those The hue lost the 0111111211 of society
is consequence of the effects of Catarrh,
should nee Dr. D. A. &Oyu's Lipid Catarrh
Remedy, which will relieve the breath of its
offsnolve - Odor and effect a 191111111114 Is of
the disease.
TOE olissur ov Tag Wm.
Fon of
6
er in
the
;. be
tate.
If any one be so utterly mistaken as to
imagine that the late war was for the ne
gro's equality, that the sacrifices of the
people were to place the black man on a
level with the white man, let him stop the
first wounded soldier be meets, who cue.
'Ws the oonfl:tit, end ask him whather
fought for, Let him question those ho
have made the most sacrifices. It will not
do to go to the map who has grown rich
on the - war and its accessories, for he has
had no part in the expense, and knows
nothing of its objects.
nom the very" outbreak of the strife
there were many men who deiigned to
turn it into a revolutionary contest. They
taught and pregched that the whole so
dal fabric was to, be re-oig* razed. They
determined to make it a free fight without
much caring what happened, so •long as
they could bring out of it their pet ideas
triumphant overall the country, North
and South. These men were few,but noisy,,
sad a great many followed and believed
in them. It is now time to reflect, and
see whether it is the intention of thepeo
plc to recogcize4 the Ab,lition social sys
tem.
Lorin
!pears
•11 ad
, and
MEI
eport
t into
ted a
Radi•
'ption
meat,
We have again and again told our read
ers that the negro question lay below the
slavery question, and- that the settlement•
of the latter was.of very small account as
compared with the other. It is plain now
that the abolition of slavery has but
thrown us into the midst of the other top
ic, and the status of the negro is to be
made the subject of politiCAl, discussion,
turmoil and future .dissension. But for
the present let us, if possible, confine our
selves to the question, what was the ob-
ject of the war—for what have our brave
men shed so much blood.! And if we find
tliat;the object was the Union tinder the
Constitution=the good old Union of our
Fathers, and that we can have it now, at
Once, without a week's delay, complete,
calm, peaceful ; if this is within our grasp,
let us have it. Or, if the people decide
that, having fought for it, they do not
want it, and will not have it, but demand
some new farm of government, some new
social and political laws, let those who
thus decide go forwyd to the ruin of their
country, forever haunted by the pale faces
and sad countenances of the dead, who
I will then have died in vain.
balance
vages of
inclined
scions of
on the
honest
A Word to,the Benevolent.
a
EDITOR OP rue OnsilVisa : A great many
children in Erie will be. as they have hereto
fore been. made happy by appropriate peer.
ant■ on .o:misfiles& And yet, reader, you
may esconoter, even in our city. little boys
and little girls wbo hare seen ten Christmases
and not one rift of live, although happiness
thus created is so cheep that a batfull and
heartfull may be purchased for s dime or
two ; who never hung up a stocking on that
glad Eye, because they had none to hang up
that bad not more boles in it than the knitter
intended ; who know whit want is—want of
sunshine in the soul, want of home, and hope
and comforts, sod pretty much everything
that makes a child a candidate for any bright
er, better kingdom than the kingdom of dark
ness; wbo are clothed in ra:s, and sometimes,
Indeed, in cursing; • who covet everything
because they have nothing, end so steal; who,
undervalue life because they have so few of
its blessings, and so murder, by antby ; who
find truth the most pitiable thing to tell they
know of. and so lie ; you may meet such as
these, during the festive- season close at
hand, even in our favored. prosperous place.
If you can lighten their hearts by acts of
kindness; if you can make them better by
manifesting interest in their welfare, do so,
and they may hereafter the up and call you
blessed!
In view of cases like those above alluded
to, and the well known extreme destitution
of whole families, it seems to me that the duty
of united action for the systematic supply of
the wants of the pear in our midst, iv impera
tive. In - accordaoce l with the suggestson of
one of our principal clergymen in the ours
of last Sund ty monde/es sermon. I hope a
timeline of 'tidies will be called at an early
day for the formatiots of ■ Benevolent Society,
to take the place of the recently disbanded
Relief Committee—its treasury to be supplied
by voluntary contributions, or by the avails
of festivals or any means that may be deemed
appropriate or expedient. It will not do to
try to dispose of the question by the plea that
each church can take care of •its own poor.
because. if this policy should be adopted,
what would become of the many destitute who
stand unconnected with any church farm:miss.
lion! There mud be a uni , n of the energy
and. means of all religious denominations.
Then let there he prompt, decided, harmonious
action uptin the subject. *4*
is line of
I soon be
le` The holidays 'are close at hand and
our dealers•are preparing to .meet the vitae
of the season. The largest and beat stook of
goods for this trade will be found at Bener fs .
Burgess' confectionary establishment, Erie,
Pa. They manufacture and keep everything
in the candy'line,as well as a general assort
ment of Notions, Toys, &o.
Everybody knows them by the reputation
of their popular Cough Candy . —Moss •and
Elm. It proves itself the best article of the
kind ever introduced. The immense quanti,
ties they ship every day is proof that the
public appreciate a good article. They are
prepared to fill orders fot: it in an'Y quantity.
Everybody who tries it says it is just the
thing. (novl4'6s.tf)
HOLIDAY GOODS —Our readers vurchasing
goods for holiday presents *should bear in
mind that Webber & Uhr, on State street,
near the Union depot, bare on hand one of
the best assortments in that line ever brought
to the city. Their stook embraces China, Tin,
Wooden and Sugar Toys, Candies of all kinds.
Dolls, Boys' Sleds, and in short, any and
everything calculated to please the litte ones
These articles they are selling at prices as
IoW as they can be bcught in New York city.
decB.tjl*
FARM FOR SALE.
ma nedersigood - offers hi. Firm for gale, situated is
Rano? Creelr - tp . 7% miles from R•ie sad Cu. half a3ile
Pow the Station Road. Said farm contains S 8 acne of
land under good improveme t., with Root frame hones,
two barns and ogler euraterts%le outbuildings. Also, •
young orchard, beginning to bag; and rod water. F &Id
!audio well ad .std to grain and spring grains with go”d
school sad mill oriv,l•gr• near bt . And ale* a va , uable
wood lot, containing sag aorta, afar by., with small
clearing unlit It For furth.r haws &Donis ,uireofthe
modernly:44 en the premises
eser• w*. ARNOLD JORDAN.
B. T. Shun, In the Can't of Comm •e Pleas
es. of etle Co, Pa In tgolty Xti
Y. N. floors Irpb T.rm, 11139.
And new, to vit. Noe. 3).INS, on notion of plaint!,
D 7 attorn.y, the Court appo of Geo. W Gunalson, Reg .
/auditor, to emit, distriaatioo sod appropriation of the
nests In thls ease. Pa Cm. AV persons Interisted to
tee above 'Widest* are hereby notified that I at
tend t , the da lea of my appointroont. at toy Mlles, Iti
yle. on Welatiaday, the Ad day • t January. A. Li .111116.
at 2 o'clock p.
deaf-3.. G O. W. GUNNISON, Auditor..
ADMINISTRATOR' NOTICE.
•
Letters of telialatitratt a en the edits of Polly liml•
ley, deed. late of Gelmmt/ Ip.. Cris county, Ps. fordo,
beta granted to the cod mleo.d; notice Is hereby given
to all ladebted to setl ovate to mate immediate pty.
meet aid all havirg claims agalos• the ease will pre
emit them Mile a theatleatet tar eettlemeet
W. N. :WILEY.
Lsßoenf, Nov. 30, '65.6 Administrator.
ExBoll TOWN NO Tler•
',Atm testarseatary 01 the elhts of !Raton &kaolin.
deed. lets of Nal Crest tp., Sri* Co. Pa, baying been
greeted to the uadsrolgosd; Nettles to horsey pm° to
those howls, tbrateelvss Indebted to the Mato t
oaks twondlets mows; aad this. hieing sham
Against the MIMS trill_ please pelmet theca, dal? bathe , "
bead. to P. ItoWdw, Isl., who ts hereby authoessd
to eollset sad little up the &moats of said dwiesed.
/MST SCIENVOLII,
swali4w. litasautot.
B2NR* & 51111.10%1,
MANC/LoTrina ow
PLAIN AND FANCY CANtly,
OF ALL KINIW
w. mike sae tat Pim Coldedilaety, 'Vag
asaarial sad again liana. a t , oas
of Saw Good. islarti, /Wanda!
W ilia saleable "„ilt4
1
,*
HOLIDAY C
100 liMenai styLte of
SUGAR Toys,
sALTANS, 000D9, ma. NOTION", be„
For the Roliday Swam
rzn - VARIETY Or,
SUGAR GOODS, CAVDIFS, K
ILiAm 11iprows for its
il 0 L 1D A I'
Oar Back to ULU list to Txteasf re,
ally tot, the
001731 TR Y TRADE
Moss & Elm
NOT
We are pubis pirtica
NOTIO
♦ll Goods la this Um astiall
LOW/ST WH
Moss & Elm
Lewdm articles in the
NOTIOR LINI
=2l
Mgr*lop's,
XneUsge,
Load Pomade,
Ersitag Guns,
Tobacco Ilan; Oita Taboo, - Combs, P'4ll‘
Gun Caps,
blaiblet,
Hair Oil,
Perfamory.
Fancy Soaps,
Jewidtarps,, Youth Chic
•XD • L•RQC •SSOBII[CI
•ND
/33
Moss & Elm
LE2dOllB, COCOA
AT W
w. haw(
MARS, TIME ORS
FLAW)
PLPZUMERT.' CHI
At to
Muss &
FRESH BALTIMORE
ia Large or Small Quastair.
Vo hays slugs antortaseat of O•o4
to @apply &mien promptly. Om red"
M found suited to tb• smsts
Itotttlor, arid of First Clam.
Quality.
IMI
Moss & Elm OPfl
Tim most POPULAR COrrAl IiSO
L the Ihrtit•
8414- by all Des mrisill and astaill s tki
TRAD E
Blatt Pos,-.1,
Diaries,
Kim