The debate in the Senate this afternoon upon the amendment to the Post-office Appropriation Bill, restricting the President in the appointing power, was more lively than any of the previous debates on that subject. The matter will again come up to-morrow, when a final vote will be taken, and doubtless the amendment will be rejected. Should this be the result, we shall probably hear no more of the proposition this session, as it is evident that a majority of the Senate is opposed to meddling further with the President's right to remove and appoint officers upon what he deems just and proper cause.

    The great debate on the Reconstruction Report opened in the House to-day in a prompt and vigorous manner. It was the first thing in order after the Chaplain's prayer, and an effort by Mr. GARFIELD to have the consideration of the matter postponed until the Revenue Bill was disposed of, was voted down on a call of the yeas and nays by 51 against 82, so the House resolved to go on, and Mr. STEVENS opened in a carefully prepared speech, supporting the report strongly, though it was not in all respects what he could wish. He was as sarcastic as usual toward "the man at the other end of the avenue," and then turned and flaggelated his political compatriot, SUMNER, rather severely. Mr. BLAINE (Union) followed briefly, striking the first blow against the disfranchising section of the amendment, by showing that it would be an act of bad faith to all those who had been pardoned by Presidents LINCOLN and JOHNSON in their amnesty proclamations, issued in pursuance of the act of Congress of July, 1863, which would include all the participants in the rebellion, except those of the excepted classes. Mr. STEVENS at once gave his case away by admitting that all thus pardoned would not be affected by the disfranchisement; but Judge BINGHAM suggested that this amendment, as a part of the organic law, swept away all provisions of acts in conflict with it. Whether it was good policy to do that was another thing. Mr. FINCK, Democrat, then followed in a half-hour written speech of the usual Democratic arguments, when Gen. GARFIELD took the floor in opposition to the section, and said that, as it stood, it was no penalty and no punishment. He would disfranchise rebels forever or not at all, Mr. THAYER (rep.) made an eloquent speech on the same side, approving heartily of the whole plan, except the third section. Mr. BOYER then took up the Democratic thread of argument, and was followed by Judge KELLEY, whose oratorical rapier made some brilliant thrusts in a running debate with his Democratic colleague. Mr. KELLEY favored the plan as reported from the Committee, though not in just such shape as he wanted it. Gen. SCHENCK then spoke, directing his chief argument against the third section, approving all the rest. Mr. GREEN CLAY SMITH closed the debate for the day in a speech of diffuse opposition to the whole scheme, interspersed with more or less interruption. The result of the debate is highly important in showing a strong opposition to the disfranchising section and a hearty approval of all the rest. It really looks as though the section in question would be stricken out, and the others agreed upon by a full two-thirds vote. This, with the adoption of Mr. BINGHAM's amendment to the bill, so as to permit each State to be represented as fast as they ratify the amendments which will undoubtedly prevail, will ensure the unanimous support of the Republican majority in the House, with the exception of possibly two or three members from the Border States.

    There are some funny rumors to-day regarding Colorado, and a prominent Radical Senator, who is as anxious as any of his colleagues for an increase of that party in the Senate, made the remark that he did not consider the veto of the bill such a certain thing after all, though he hoped it would come. It turns out that the would-be Senators from Colorado, who have been blowing hot with the Senate to get in, are now blowing cold with the President to effect the same thing. The President will undoubtedly be guided by proper motives in his action. But it would be funny, if, in the language of the street-corner politicians, "the last man gets 'em."

    The House is full to-night, and hard at work on the Tax Bill. The tax on Cotton has just been fixed at five cents per pound, and they are now engaged on the machinery for its collection, at which the lawyers are tinkering.

    The failure of the Merchants' National Bank will be the subject of a most searching investigation. The Receiver and Examiner appointed by Comptroller CLARKE are already at work. Then the Washington Board of Trade resolved, last night to investigate its affairs, and to-day the House adopted a resolution directing the Committee on Banks and Currency to investigate its concerns, with authority to send for persons and papers and examine witnesses under oath. All this indicates a determination to have the matter sifted to the bottom, and from what is already known, it is safe to predict that there will be some astounding revelations. The case looks bad for all concerned in it. The plausible assurances of the President of the institution that "all will be right," are regarded as the climax of cool impudence.

    In the debate upon the joint resolution conferring authority upon the Government to prevent the introduction of cholera into this country, Mr. GRIMES objected to further legislation conferring doubtful powers upon the Federal officers. He said that during the war we had assumed powers doubted by some and denied by many of the ablest statesmen in the land. He had consented to such doubtful assumption during the Rebellion. But it was now time to right up, and he should no longer give his consent to the passage of acts conferring authority upon the Federal Government which conflicts with the constitutional rights of local or State Government.

    Col. W. WYNKOOP arrived in this city to-day from the West, where he has succeeded in effecting a treaty with the warlike Indians of the Plains, through which security is insured to both the settlers and the emigrants to and in the West. The Chivington massacre incensed the various tribes and they assumed a warlike attitude. Col. WYNKOOP, formerly of the First Colorado Cavalry, was, by the urgent request of both the whites and the Indians, retained in the service of the War Department for the especial purpose of effecting a peaceful solution of the troubles on the Plains, and in this line of duty, directed to report to the Department of the Interior. Under instructions the Colonel left Washington Dec. 18, 1865, and energetically pushed forward toward the Far West. March 1, 1866, he convened the scattered Indian tribes on Bluff Creek, south of the Arkansas River, eighty miles from Larned, and effected their full indorsement of a treaty promising to secure the most beneficial results under its terms. The settlers and the emigrants will be amply protected in all their rights, and no apprehensions need be felt of further Indian outbreaks. After obtaining these concessions, the Colonel, under orders, started back to Washington to report that which he had effected, bringing with him a young white woman who had been for years an unwilling Indian captive. In the performance of his arduous duties, the Colonel has traveled thousands of miles, endured every hardship, and encountered many dangers. He has mingled freely with the most warlike Indian tribes, and secured from them all treaties of peace and amity. Great credit is due him for the admirable manner in which he has carried out his instructions and for the results he has achieved, promising as they do to render life and property, both on the plains and en route, more secure than ever before. Col. WYNKOOP has received the cordial indorsement of the Government authorities, and naturally received a warm and cordial welcome from his numerous friends. He will remain in Washington till the War and Interior Departments have acted upon his able and satisfactory report.

    A paragraph in the Washington correspondence of a New-York paper stating that the failure of the Merchants' National Bank, has caused a general distrust among depositors in other institutions, and that in consequence quite a run was made upon some, &c., is calculated to do harm, and is not true. No such general feeling of distrust has been made manifest, and it is believed that the other regular banking Institutions of the city are perfectly sound.

    Secretary McCULLOCH, who made a trip to Fortress Monroe and back, leaving here on Saturday and returning on Monday morning last, had, while at the Fortress, a few moments conversation with JEFF. DAVIS. There was nothing of special interest in the interview, the conversation being general and quite brief. DAVIS is not enjoying very good health.

    The Government has finally determined to hold the gold claimed by the Richmond banks as belonging to them, some account of the seizure of which I have given already. The proofs seem to establish clearly that the gold belonged to the so-called Southern Confederacy, and was on deposit with the banks subject to the drafts of the Confederacy.

    The number of Americans visiting Europe is shown by the amount of passports issued by the Department of State to be largely increasing. More have been issued in 1866 than in any previous year, sometimes as many as forty in a single day. It is proper to state, in reference to the daily applications made to the Department of State for letters of introduction to our diplomatic and consular representatives abroad, that a strict and long-established rule of the Government forbids the department to grant any such letters. Obvious public reasons demand this rule. It may also be mentioned here that bearers of dispatches, whose appointment is also daily solicited, are not appointed except in cases where the mails are obstructed or deemed unsafe. At all other times dispatches go by mall.

    In a letter addressed to the Secretary cf the Treasury, the Attorney-General gives his opinion that under the statutes of Internal revenue, and the recent decisions of the Supreme Court in "brokers' and bankers' cases," that bankers who negotiate sales not only of stocks belonging to themselves, but also of stocks belonging to others, are denominable "bankers doing business as brokers," and are liable respectively to pay the prescribed duties upon the amount & of such sales. A broker, and a banker doing business as a broker, stand on precisely the same footing in the statute.

    A prize fight took place this morning, at 6 o'clock, at White House Landing, on the Potomac, 25 miles below this city, between one SAMUEL COLLIER, of Baltimore, and HORATIO BOLSTER, of this city, but formerly of New-York. Forty-nine rounds were fought in 65 minutes, when COLLIER was declared the victor. A considerable assemblage of the sporting fraternity was present, having left here quietly about 1 o'clock this morning by the steamer Wawassat. Representatives of Wilkes' Spirit of The Times and the Clipper were on the ground. After the return of the crowd a number of the participants got into a row at a grog shop on Tenth-street, when pistols were used. One man was mortally wounded.

    This morning, about 6 o'clock, a prize fight took place at the White House Landing, about twenty miles down the Potomac, between SAMUEL COLLIER, of Baltimore, and HORATIO BOLSTER, formerly of New-York, but lately a resident of this city, for $300 a side. This match was made only about two weeks since, and the Washington representative had but little training, he not having been as long known to the ring as his opponent. The parties to the affair and spectators, numbering nearly three hundred, left here at 1 o'clock this morning on the steamer Wawaset. It is said to have been one of the most orderly crowds ever assembled on such an occasion. On reaching the landing, there was some delay in selecting the ground, but at about 5:30 o'clock the parties agreed on a place in the woods and the ring was staked. The men were in good trim, weighing, when stripped for the fray, about 140 pounds each; but COLLIER appeared to be in a little better condition than BOLSTER, All being ready, they nimbly stepped into the ring, and the fight commenced. The first blood was awarded to COLLIER, and the men each showed extraordinary pluck and some excellent sparring. On the third or fourth round BOLSTER injured his left hand, it is said, and on the ninth round broke his right hand on COLLIER'S left ear, and some of his friends expected that he would give in; but disabled as he was, he came to time on the next round, and continued to fight, making forty-nine rounds, at the end of which his seconds threw up the sponge and COLLIER was declared the victor. The fight lasted fifty-five minutes. Both were badly bruised. BOLSTER, in the face; COLLIER in the body, but not so severely as was expected, and although BOLSTER was whipped he was declared, even by COLLIER'S friends, to be a man of extraordinary pluck, and his backers were highly pleased with him, COLLIER'S seconds were CLINTON JAMES and JACK FITZGERALD. BOLSTER'S seconds were JAMES AULEY and JOHN LAZARUS, and the referee a man named GODFREY. BOLSTER'S backers are loud in their expressions of admiration of his nerve and pluck in fighting so long after he was virtually disabled, and think that if he could leave saved his maulers intact, the result would have been different. GEORGE F. WILKES, of Wilkes' Spirit, and a correspondent of the New-York Clipper, were present, and the sporting men of New-York, Philadelphia, Boston and Baltimore were well represented.

    The President has recognized LEOPOLD SCHMIDT as Consul of Saxony at New-York.

    The Senate passed the House bill to exempt crude petroleum from internal tax, without opposition. Mr. COWAN gave some account of the panic and abandonment of the oil wells in Pennsylvania, on account of the reduction in the price of petroleum to a sum not sufficient to pay the expense of working the wells and getting the article ready for the market.

    Hon. W. E. CHANDLER, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, who has been absent several days on a visit to New-Hampshire, is expected here to-morrow, to resume his official duties.

Source:

Unknown, "Washington News, Result of Col. Wynkoop's Mission to the Indian Tribes, etc." New York Times, Wednesday, 9 May 1866, p. 1.