From Washington

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.

The railroad operations of the War Department require that there should be a just and efficient system of railroad transport, that would secure to the Government energetic action with a fair tariff of charges.  The Secretary of War, believing that he may safely appeal to the practical experience of the officers of the railroad companies and their patriotic feelings for aid in devising such a system, invites the chief officers of the respective railroad companies of the loyal States to meet and confer with him on this subject at Washington on Thursday, the 20th day of February, 1862.  Hon. Erastus Corning and N. L. Wilson, now in this city are requested to act as a committee of arrangements.

Signed,

EDWIN M. STANTON.

Secretary of War.

Tribune Correspondence.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.

Senator Latham will to-morrow introduce a bill for the survey of a telegraph line from San Francisco to the northwest coast overland, via Behring’s Straights and Asiatic Russia to the mouth of the Amoor river as proposed by McDonald Collins.

The military committee asks for an appropriation of $100,000 and two small vessels, in order to make the preliminary survey.  The enterprise will be under the direction of the President, and other nations will be invited to participate in it.

A board of officers convened to investigate the quality of clothing furnished by contractors, have discovered that at least one third now on hand is entirely worthless.  The facts being reported to the Secretary of War he ordered that payments to the contractors be at once suspended.

Gen. Segwick [sic], a Brigadier-General in General Heintzleman’s division, has been assigned to the command of Gen. Stone’s division.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17.

Chief justice Tanney [sic] this morning delivered the opinion in the case of Gordon, the slave trader, denying the motion made by Judge Dean for a writ of probation to prevent his execution, on the ground of a want of power in the Court to review proceedings in criminal cases to restrain the action of a ministerial officer.  The application was based on alleged irregularity in the New York Circuit Court.  Application will be made to the President in behalf of Gordon, on the same grounds.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, February 18, 1862, p. 1