Afternoon Report

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5. – Herald Correspondence. – The only event yesterday was the assumption of his command by General Thos. F. Meagher, who accompanied by Gen. Shields took command of the Irish Brigade amidst great enthusiasm.  Gen. Shields addressed the troops in most effective terms.

Capt. Griffin’s battery did some splendid shooting to-day at Masons Hill.  They fired a dozen rounds with Schrepnell shell from two 12-pounder Parrott guns at a tree 1,600 yards distant.  All the shells but one exploded, and every shot struck within a few feet of the tree.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6. – Those who voted against Bright’s expulsion, were, Nays, Bayard, Cowan, Carlisle, Harris, Kennedy, Upham, Nesmith, Pearce, Powell, Rice, Salsbury, Ten Eyek, Thompson and Willey. – 14.  Yeas. 32.

The Vice President said that as two-thirds had voted in favor of the resolution, it was adopted.

(Tribune Correspondence.) – It is believed that Secretary Stanton will speedily take in fact as he has commenced in form, the conduct of the war, which usage and departmental law gives him the right to do.

The scene at the close of the expulsion of Senator Bright was dramatic.  There was a desperate decisiveness in the “no” with which Mr. Bayard answered to his name.  When Mr. Carlisle of Virginia voted “no” the flutter was significant and loud.  He had been counted only among the doubtful.

The Californians, McDougal and Simmons, were at first absent, but not a moment too soon they came in, and 32 votes declared the law that in the American Senate hereafter no traitor shall occupy a seat.  When the result was announced the galleries burst into applause, but was checked instantly

Mr. Bright bundled up the portable property on his desk, turned his back upon the Court which had tried him, went to Secretary Forney’s room and drew his pay to the last cent, and with a defiant stride passed into the Public Land Committee room, where his wife awaited him.  In her presence the actor’s costume fell.  The ruined politician sat down and haggard and crushed, contemplated the wreck he had made of his fortunes.

Mr. Arnold was authorized to-day to report fully the views of the Lake and River defence Committee on the fortifications of the frontier and the army and equipping of vessels for the Lakes.  Their recommendations will be thorough.

It is said Gov. Morgan’s nomination as Maj. General, will be rejected by the Senate.  If it is confirmed it is apprehended every Governor of every free State will claim this rank and emolument.

The New York Times Paris correspondent states that a secret dispatch from Jeff Davis had been furnished the Governments of France and England which gives full details of the military and commercial resources of the confederacy, and which points out in detail the advantages which France would derive by aiding in the establishment of the new Government.  In its details of military resources, France is expected to see that the Confederacy is able to resist the North forever, which entitles them to recognition, while in its commercial details are seen the enticing phantom of free trade and commercial riches.

Times Washington Correspondence – Vallandigham, Pendleton and Corning, with Morrill, Conkling, Horton and a few others, held a caucus this P. M. and agreed to compromise all their proposed amendments of the demand Treasury Note scheme in one bill, with the view to making a stronger combination against the bill of the committee of Ways and Means, which the Administration has endorsed as indispensable to maintaining the Government and carrying on the war.  The vote may be close, but the chances are decidedly in favor of the legal tender clause.

Hon. Jno. Parker, U. S. Consul at Honolulu, has arrived here with important information from that Government.  He says agents have been sent to England to hypothecate the entire group of the Sandwich Island to Great Britain.

The President has approved the bill authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to strike from the pension rolls the names of all such persons as have or may hereafter take up arms against the Government of the United States, or who have in any manner encouraged the rebels or manifested a sympathy with their cause.  It is known that some persons in the West, after drawing their pensions, have openly joined the enemy, while others who have not taken this extreme step have openly sympathized with the rebels and drawn their pensions.  The law just passed affords a partial remedy against disloyal pensioners receiving money from the Government.

– Published in The Dubuque Herald, Dubuque, Iowa, Friday Morning, February 7, 1862, p. 1