The New York Herald Newspaper, January 13, 1870, Page 4

THE NAVY DEPARTMENT Sharp Letter frota Ex-Secretary Welles to Secretary Robeson, The Question of Promotions of Naval Officers Pungently Discussed, Gecretary Robeson’s Annual Report Attacked as Containing Misstatements. The Claim of Economy in Expenditures Denied. Harterory, Jan. 10, 1870. Hon. Gonos M. Ropxson, Secretary of the Navy:— Sir—Im your annual report as Secretary of the Navy, on the ist of December, 1869, ts tue following Paragraph:— 3 In the year 1865 a board, com commanded squadrons duciug, the wa as (ter careful eae a pepert sericty nn alter c made @ tovthe letter of thelr instructions, and thelr sclec-Tonw woul At is believed, have been to the navy at lari The recommendations of the board were, however, not quiesced in, and the advancement was mado quite independ. @ntly of thelr action. ‘The result is that wany officers con sider themselves unjustly treated, and a feeling of discontent ‘exists most undesirable in the service, Some of the cases affected by this action have already Leen act ministration. “But tt is felt tha: the realm fan only be property Judged of by those Cognizant of ail its clroumstanc ferationagrould be loat sight of Wt of direct action by tue Depart Further mistakes. I is suggested thatthe department be euthorized appoint board of officers removed by high rank from all personal Jnleres: ou this question, to exainitie the casex complained of, and to report their conclusions ior such action by the Lxou Bive and Congress as to them may rem proper. ‘This paragraph is such # perversion of the fucts and circumstances relating to the advancement of ‘the officers at the close of the war, and betrays such @n absence of correct information on the sabject, that [ was surprised it should have found a place in without the mak @n oMcial document of the character of an annual report of the Secretary of tne Navy. I was unwil- Ung to believe that you hac intentionally and intel!i- gently misrepresented the facts, and | knew that no. ‘One of the board of admirals could communicate the roceedings of the board which I had convened to ist me with their opinions, exeept by a breach of frust. I therefore came to the couciusion that you had not personally given the subject that attention Which {t deserved, and that you had been imposea pon by some one unworthy of confidence. did not regret to learn soon after that the House of Representatives cailed on you by resoiution for the report to aan had invited their attention, and | was interested to see the response you would make to that call, While waiting for this response Treceived from Mr. Otley, Chief Cierk of the Navy Department, a brief nove stating that a thorough search had been made for the report in question, Dut it was not to be found on the files of the depart- Inent, and asking me if { bad it or a copy in my pos- session. I replied at once that 1 was in possession of neither the original nor a copy, but that 1 had a tabular statement of the recommendations, and m- formed bim the Board had been convened tntorm- ally and confideniially to assist, not to control me, that their recommendations were not obligatory, had no legal validity, were without responsitility, ‘and, being merely confidential expressions of opinion, 1 was @ question whether tiey should go on th tiles of the department. i expressed my surpriae that you should Lave assumed to state in your oficial report the contents of a docu- ment or documents which Yepresent What was satisfactory in the proceedings of che Board and what on of mine gave discon- tent, when you had no knowledge on the subject, had never read the proceedings of the Board of Ad: mirals and were ignorant of the principles on which Jacted. I requested him io submit my ietter tu you. Mr. OMley acknowledged the recetpt of my letter on the 22d of December; said he had submitted it to fou and that it was in your possession. ‘The Wash- mn correspondent of the New York HERALD, on the 23d of December, the day after you had pos- Seasion of my letter, sent to tuat paper the fullowing statement:— Several days ago the Houne passed « resolution calling up the Secrstary of the Navy for tae rucord of ths proceedties of the board of admirais appointed two or tree years ago Ly the Secretary of the Navy to examine and designate oillcers of the navy for promotion. It neers there was some irregularity about the manner in which thia board ollice:s were promoted withont revard to their wa cord ‘and other quaitications, The Nava! Commitee of the House ropose to overhaul the matter. search was made at the javy Department for the record of the Boni but it could not be found, Finally it was asce \d been carried of by the late Secretary Welles when he made his exit trom the department. Secretary Robeson directed Mr. OMey, the Chief Clerk, to address a note to Mr. Welles, setting forth that the document had heen calied for by resolution of Congress, and asking him to return it, In reel to this Mr. Of to-day received a ietter from Mr, elles, wherein bi re in_ round = terms tuter! be <Welles) private affairs. private. it was nevar intended to be public, and he Feiuses to surrender it. the Navy Depart ment say that it was as Of the dep Fight to remove it. It is supposed tuaiter in view when he carried it off. Now it is not trae that I carried off the report; tt is not true that i abused you for intertert my private affairs: it is uy at 1 bave relused to surrender tue proceedings. ‘These gross, palpable, ch apart of the Dles and rec intentional misstatements im the lecter of we HERALD corresponcent are very much in character with the paragraph in your réport which I have quoted, ‘The correspondent of the HERALD received his information from some source; and ws iy jet- ter, whicn is referred to and #0 much lulsiiled, was in your possession, { am leit im Lute doubt as to that source. As you have never seen the proceedings of the board of admirals and know nov what Wer recom- Tendations were, by what autvoriiy aud on what data do you say “thelr selections would, i is be- Hieved, have been satisfactory to the navy at large?” By what authority do you say ‘the advancement ‘was made quite independently of thetr action? ’? ‘When | inform you that nesrly one-half the officers would have been superseded or have lost rank by the action of the board of admirals had not other action been taken, and tuat to enavie me to carry into effect such of their recommendations as I ap- proved without reducing others to a lower position on the register, I procured further legislation in 1866, you wiil perceive that neither of your state- ‘ments 1s correct. From the nature of the case, when a portion of the officers were to be superseded and a@ large por- tion were to lose rank, it was impossible to have made selections Which would be “‘satisiactory to the mavy at large’’—impossibie toe avoid some discon- tent. On the other point, that of making advance- ments independently of tne action of the board, i may say, a8 the proceedings will show, that while, as Was my duiy, J acted on my own convictions, I gave weight and consideration to their Opinions, and in some cases deierred, perliaps too far to thelr ai ions. Inalarge portfon of the cases our ‘views coincided, but there were instances whére favoritism, PB ed or mistaken judgment was e@pparent. Tere were other instances where I was 1 on of information unknown to the admi- Tals, and where I could put a more correct estunate than tbe board on services rendered. They were, perhaps excusably, partial to those who had served ‘unaer thea; and perlaps some of them were preyu- diced against and laiied to rigutiy appreciave those Of other commands. There were oftice?s, also, who had acquitted them- Selves With credit, on other than squadron duty, whom I could not neglect. Nor coufu I, with my ideas of duty, aiihough you seem to suppose it proper, delegate to others auihority which legaily devolved on me and for which J was responsible. Few more unpleasant duties devolved upon me during my administrafion of the department than the difficult and delicate one of selecting aud pro- moting officers, however meriorious, over others who also had merit. | have been brought in tnti- mate rejations witihnava! oicers of every grade in g trying and critical period ot our history, had atn- @ied and learned the character of each, nad felt a personal a4 well as official obligation to.those who stood fumly by the fag und the Union when many of thelr associates deseried and others faltered. Some were necessarily to be anperseded; but f couid not willingly any of these true a men, after years of faititul war ser Joss of rank Which they wou But the proceedings and report of the Boar! of Ad- murals, which you represent 48 ‘‘satisiactory to the navy at large,” took from nearly one-half the officers their rank and placed them lower upou the registe! For this the board was not blamable. It was an li evitable resuit bi attempt to ex ril, 1864, and January, 1565, au SE tan advanceiments. Walle the award of merit to a portion of the officers was not undeserved, the mmpiied censure or reflection upon tie others was cruel, and would have been felt by them to be unjust. Knowtng the worth, fdediy and patriousm of most of the Jatter, although their career may not have been as Beilnaat, nor their opportuntites as favorable as those of some of their more for tunate orethren, I was not willing co be am instru. ament to mortify or degrade lem by carrying futo effect the recommendations of the Board of ‘Aémirals without am efort in their behalf, The Whole subjects was beset with dificaity and embarrassment, and such were my fecl.ngs towards tuo oifcers who would be humbled aid wronged, y regard for tne whole service, and my convictions f what Was Tight that { delayed action watt the foi- lowing year. Board of Adwirals was first con- et early fi 1863—there was a second session 6...0 months later—put the promovions and ad- vaucements were nos Made until alter the passage Of vite ;act of duly, 1966, pearly one and a half years jover. ‘in the Meantime the Naval Counmiuiee and "Qongrens, after being umde acquainted with tue cir. sed of admirain who bad “cannot be true economy to withhold appr. NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 1870 Mc Sumas, siege Tt fate ote tng ‘deliberation the fee ane io Gefine the umber an regula the ap- pointment rs in the ag for other pur- poses,”” ap} July 25, 1808. ‘11s lore’ than two. yeurs, after the law Of April, 1864, the only law on this subject with whic you appear to be conversant, enlarged the Lumber of each grade, relieved the department Of its most serious embarrassinents, ‘and avoided the degradation of # large number ol woreey officers from the rank whigh they had attained and of which they ought not, without fault, to be deprived. You make no allusion to this act of 1806, seem not to be aware that its enlarged provisions, with the rec- ommeydations of the Board of Admirals, was the basis of my acuon aud enabled the government to ao justice to the WI 1 " o vy As soon as the aa enacted T invited Admiral Farragut to Washington, and with bim [ took up and revised the whole regiater, having the proceedings Of the Board of Admira!s and the rec- ord of every oMcer before us, No other officer was summoned on this occasion, for I de to avoid all favoriusm and combinations such a8 have some- umes aftiicted the navy. More than twenty years PrOvIOUalY, when chief of a naval bureau, I witnessed the p ernicious effects of cliques and per- sonal favoritisms in the service, and there were indi- penaon Of # disposition, iu some quarters, to revive he evil, Admiral Farragut was at the head of tho service, and had never been connected with any of the cliques and combinations which had affitcted it, and which I bad labored with some success to eradicate. I knew bis impartiality, ts devotion to the true in- terests of the country and the whole navy, that he was free from favoriiism or prejudice and that he was asaie and reliable couuselior who wanted a United states nany snd not # personal navy. Witn him { went through the entire rogister, canvassed each individual case, and it was the wish and intep- tion of both of usto do equal and exact justice to all; not that lexpected to give satistaction to every aan, for tat Was an impossibility. As the responsibility of the promotions was with me, and asim some instances 1 knew of services rendered with which he was not acquainted, | acied on my own convictions, in coniormity with his ex- pressed wish and our mutual understanding before the -register was taken wu Whatever errors, therefore, were committed, I am responsible for, and not Admiral Farragut. I mention the fact of consulting that distinguished ommfcer in the Mnai revision of the promotions because your report makes no mention of it and couveys @ false impression of the whole subject, L regretted that the time allotted us to accomplish this work after the passage of the act of 1866 was so brief; but it was near the close of the session, and only three days were given us to make the re- view. ‘The promotions and advaucements thus made gentinued undisvurbed wile } was in the depai ment, except in one instance, when the battle record of the oficers did not reach the department ‘until after the nommations were made aud con- rmed. You state that ‘some of the cases affected by this ‘action have already been acted on by the adininis- tration,” apd urge this as a reason why you should “be authorized to appoint a board of officers” in orde? that “eag ta ie may be properly judged.” ‘The imputatiof that the cases have not been “pro- perly judged” 13 made wituout any knowledge of the facts, for when called upon for the proceedings of the Board of Admirals it is Bau ‘ou have not seen them, and you make no mention of the con- suitatigon with Admirai Farragut at the close. As to appointing a board of officers to re-examine @ subject that was disposed of nearly four years ago, you have the authority to convene such # board Without Congressional action, and the board can re- port oraliy or in writing, but after all the matter is purely executive, not tegistative. No Congressional action was taken nor was any board of officers con- vened in the “cases already acted on by the adminis- tration.” Such @ board at this day woula create discontent and afford an opportumaty for a master spirit to exercise partiality and form @ clique devoted to his personal interest if so incited, Iam aware of but two cases which have been “acted on by this administration.” That you may have the full benefit of the action in these cases, I shall give you the facts of each, as they have been made exceptional. Cuptam ‘tH. Stevens had a fair war record, although his efMciency may have been sometimes impaired by his habits, a fact whicn bad tts Infla- ence wth the Board of Admirals and with the de- partment algo when the promotions were under con- sideration, He was registered No. 24 on the grade of commanders when the Board of Admirals was convened, aud they recommended not only that he Should not be advanced but that he should be put back one number on the list and be registered No. 25, But 1, instead of reducing hun in rank below 24, was enabled by the act of 1866 to advance him to 10. fle was one who considered himseif “unjustly treated,” and he applied to Congress for redress. His case was referred to the Naval Committee, who examined the suyject and reported against’ Lim. Conyress concurred m that report. Last spring tne President, notwithstanding the proceedings of the Board of Admirals, the action of the Navy Depart- ment, the adverse report of the Naval Committee and of Congress, promoted him to a higher position on the list of captains. The other and tho only other officer who has been taken from the position assigned him and in like manner promoted 1s Captain Thomas it. Patterson, a brotner-in-law of Vice Admiral Porter. Captain Patterson was No. 25 on the register as commander. He had no battle record, and the Board of Admirals recommended that he should be reduced to rank No, 28. ladvanced him to No. 11, These two officers were Jast spring taken from their position on the register and promoted simulta- neously over eighteen captains, most of them exem- plary, efficient and gallant officers, with an honor- able record for heroic service. 1 am aware of no reason why exceptions should have been made in Javor of these two officers. They constitute, I believe, the whole of what you call ‘sume of the cuses” which “have been already acted on by the administration,” ‘this letter has been drawn from me in conse- quence of an application trom the department for information, and of the use which has been made of my reply. I had not proposed, nor do { now pro- pose, to comment on the numerous errors which pervade your repori, Obviously intended, in many instances, to reflect on the previous administration of the departinent. Some of your statements are, however, a3 open to criticism and quite 25 excep- Uonable as the paragrapn in relation to the advance- ment of officers. Without any general review, duty to myself requires, perhaps, that shouid, when writing you, advert to oue or two poinis. Among the subjects which you make prominent is tne amonnt of work which has been accomplished in re- pairing vessels, changing their character and giving inem ship rig, and the great economy resulting therefrom, a3 compared with what you call tha wold system.” You fail to state, howaver, the amount of money which has been and is being ex- pended to effect these changes. We both know it exceeds by millions the appropriations made by Congress for repairs; aud on this question of ex- pending mouey wien Cougress has refused to make appropriations we have differed. Congress was informed by me of the condition of our yards and vessels, and that repairs were needed; but re- fused to appropriate the funds for these repairs. I would not, after this refusal, invade the ‘Lreagury, in defiance of the Jegtslative branch of the govern- meat, and take unappropriated funds. ‘The repairs and retiiments of vessels was consequently limited to the few ships required to maintain the squad- Tons in force. Congress was advised of this fact, aud 1, m my annual report, in December, 1868, slated:— ‘To preserve and protect the vessels and other property at gurasry yards ise duty prompted by ‘economy and dicated by & proper regard for the public Interest. "Work should not be wholly suspended on the ships which have been com- menced and are yet unfinished, but they should be completed and gradually latinched and brought into service as they may be wanted. If properly, protected they can remain on the stocks for years without injury after the hulls are Snished. Each vessel, when she returns from # cruise, should be at once repaired and placed in an efficient condition. Hulis and engines, after long service in different climat become worn and injured, and, {f neglected, will rapidiy iy. It riations esvential for fall and thorough repairs, for completing improvements which have been commenced, aud for protecting and afford- ing facilities nesessary to tho good order, proper condition and ellicanoy of the navy yardeand navy establishments. In some respects the public interest has ‘been made to suffer from neglect or refusal to make suilcient appropriations for the purposes herein indicated, and it is earnestly recom- mended that such omission be hereafter avoided, Thad, three years ago, seen the disposition to cur- tail naval estimates and appropriations without dis- crimination, and, to prevent injury to the public ser- vice in consequence of withholding the means neces- sary for needful repairs, J, ou the 14th February, 1865, addressed a special communtcation to the naval committee, urging, whiie reduction might be made in some appropriations, that ‘appropriations may be made for repairs, im accordance with the eatimates furnished,” andclosed my statement with tue following remarks:— Thave deomod it my duty to oall your attention, as chair. map of the Committee om Naval Affairs, tothe impollcy of inspairing and crippiing the public service, as proposed in the bill reported by tie appropriation committee. rhe depart- meut hae no personal ends to serve in seeking to have suit- ie appropriations toade. Only the best good of the eountry and the keeping of that arm of the military service with whose administration I om. charged in condi- fon to maintain everywhere and upon all ocoasions the honor of our flag and the Interests of our coun- try have been considered: If Congress wituholds tlie means and the power and elliciency of the American navy by linpaired I shall at least have the satisfaction of ig that fie turongh no neglect of mine; and if upon a nye of adinintatration it shall be sald, as was remarked after the last ministerial change In Great Britain, that ¢ present governinent upon taking ollice were alarmed when they saw the appearanae of decrepitude which national defences bore ; everything had been apparently pared down to the exact border line dividing elliciency from in: iliciener,”” T wail feel that no part of the censure attaches to me and those assuciaed with me im the adiwiuistration of deparunent, hat year were not regarded, repairs and improvements ce extent wuspended. A year id Only a few weeks before leaving the de- w of the injury to the vessels and Jards, by reason of the inability to inake needful ars from want of funds, again called the atveution of the naval committee and Congress to the facts. It was my wish that those Who sucpeeded me should be relieved of the dificultios and etabarrassuients which I had expe- rienced for three years, and L closed a very fali and explicit Communication, of the 24h of January, one year ago, as followa:— If those who succeed mo are ombarragsad for the want of vessels or means it koail be through no faalt of wine; for it has been my endeavor that (ue wants of the service and the eats of the country sliould be faithfully presented to were to a conside after, au mual report, as well ns in aval Department and in this ietier, my object haw i# (he woilare of the service. It ina eatiafaction to know thas the department is not responsible for the perish: fng aud gou-eficteat condition of our naval vesscia whieh Tolaiu at the wharves unfitted and warepaired for service. These letters are on the records of the departinent, pecinl communteationa and you have wot read Liem 1 reapevitully cow- Mend them to your perusal. Congress, though fally informed of the condition of the vessels and their deterioration, to make the required appro- | pny) and I, with my convictions of duty, had ut one course to pursue, which was to Limit the re- pairs within the means provided. Adi at Course been pursued since Maroh last, and i think results will “fully justify the wisdom of its policy.” I acted on no such principle. ‘The wisdom and correctness of the recommenda- tions in my annuai report and in the Cy ge tions to the naval committees and Congress I have never doubted. Your action has been in conformity to my recommendations, so far as needful repairs have been made, but 1 would not willingly expend the public money, a8 has been done for the last eight months, without authority of law, certainly not in Tange open tures o a. character gf the ves- sels; but the deparjmony is at nt fo be gov- erned by no guch restraints, You no allusion to ‘several mmendatons to Congress, but state ti you have proceeded ‘‘to restore our small force to an elective condition” in “the shortest pos- sible time; and in an appendix you enumerate eighty-six vessels repaired and refitted for sea, A large number of the vessels thus enumerated, which ee take credit for having refitted, are new and ave never made a cruise, Your justifivation and great claim for these ex- penditures, made independently of Oongréss, con- SIs 4y ihe y it saving -of ‘fuel.’ Ver ) you say, tate iD ven sail power and rerigged,”’ #0 that they are independent of steam. ‘Orders bave been issued to the commandants of squadrons, dl- recting them not to permit the consumption of coal for any purpose which could be as well pertoetaa by sail.” ‘Ynis is a mere repetition of an old regula- tion issued in 1665, directly after the close of the war, and rigidly enforced, to whitch, however, you make no allusion, leaving it to be interred that it is @ new fuiatuon, DoW tor the firss time issued. Gn tue math page you make the extraordinary Pein ens that this system of a oan res 8 an requiring the io of tall sail power, beside is Stact to inake sailors of both officers and men, will, on the vessels intended to be kept in commission (calculating that they grulse bat two-thirds of tho time), make, in the fem of ooal alone, au consumed under the old system, a saving of more than $2,000,000 per annum. Much haa been a in the last six or elght mouths Qf une my vel lo ving effected tu the con- sumption cost of uel under the new manage- ment of the Navy Department, and now in your oil- cial report you give assurance that there is to be “in the item of coal glone, as consumed under the old system @ saving of more than $2,000,000 per snp. if any such remarkable saving bas been made, or is to be made, great credit is certainly due to those who have effected it, and great culpability should yee the hecagerystregs . ¢ he “old sysvem,’? i .) ip hoid myself responsible my acts, and you are ro- sponsible for the verity of your statements, In order to ascertain “how this immense and promised saving in fuel {8 to be eifecied, It will be necessary to know how much coal is consumed per anuua), and at what cost. 1 have no account of the Sino of coal actually consumed in any ae roo a uy phe quanlity required for the ay aad age ae ten estimates for which appropriations have been asked since the return of {a my report, December, 1867, the estimates for the then ensuing year were for 32,000 tons. ‘The fol- lowing year, December, 1468, the estumuves were for the next ensuiag year 30,000 tuns, A consumption Of avout 30,000 tons, or an average of 500 tous per steamer—the estimate of the equipment Lae ae ry Wants of the service under the “old system,” 88 you,term it. contract was made in May, 1868—the last of which I have memoranda— for 10,000 tons at Philadeiphia, at $3 33 per toa, But this was probably at @ less rate tnan tue aver purchases, Which are about four dollars; but evenfat five dollars, which is sometimes paid, the cost for 30,000 tons—a year’s consumption—would be $150,000, ‘This ts the sum total required fer voal for steamers annually in time of peace; and from this amount, in consequence of having “given full sail power and having rerigged’’ the steamers at great expense, you pledge yourself and deciare “it can be shown by figures” that you will make ‘“‘a saving of more than $2,000,000 per annum’! in the “single ae as coal alone, as cousumed under the old ai Str, let me tell you that the interest of the money which has been éxpended by the Navy Department in excess of the appropriations since the 4th of March, much of it in changing the character of our naval vessels, without the knowledge or consent of Congress, oud | apprehend without consuliumg the naval coustructors—the interest of the money on the excess of the expenditures over the appropriauons since the 4th of March would vastly more than pay for the coal annually consumed by all the steamers in all our squadrons. The whole estimate for coal, traus- ortation, storage, labor, &., by the equipment urea Was $430,000. Thave not yet had the pleasure of seein; mates of tiie Navy Departinent in aetall for the ensuing® year, submitted to the present Congress. When they are published I shall be able to ascer- tain what reauction you lave made or propose to make in the quantity of coal consumed, after the large expenditure in changing the character of the vessels, giving them ‘full sail power? and “ship rig.’? Jusvso much as your estimate is less than 30,000 tons will be the saving effected. If you have estimatea for that quantity or a larger quan- tity it will be conciusive that you have no confidence in your own statement or in your questionable im- provements, 1 am satisfied in this case, as well ag in that of the advancement of officers and other par- ticulars, you have failed to make personal investiga- tion, a3 i8 expected of one in sO responsible a posi- tion, and that you have, tn fact, no reliable data for many ol your statements. 1 do not charge you with designedly practising an imposition on Congress and the country, but you have permitted yourself to be imposed upon by @ prompter who 1s careless of facts and makes reckless assertions, There 18 aa obscurity in your financial exhibit to which, while writing, I call your attention, although there may have been design in making It obscure. ‘The statement of expenses and estimates is not an exiuibit of the fiscai year, as 1s usual, but is a biend- ing of fractions of two years and of two administra- tons, and furnishes no definite or satisfactory m- formation of the transacuons of the department. You omit to state what were the expenditures for the fiscal year which terniinated on the 30ta of June. You omit to state the unexpended balances in the Treasury on the ist of Juy, or wat were the avail- able resources for the current year at that date, ‘the appropriations for the last Mscal year were 66,500 18, but the expenditure exceeded amount several millions of dollars, iow much that excess is you do not Btate, and it can- not be known without the usual exuibit, which is studiously suppressed. An attempt 18 made to divert attention by a statement that $27,880,658 was expended up to tne Ist of December, but the Treasury year neitifer commences nor closes in December. The appropriations by Congress ex- tend from the 1st of July to the 80th of June of tne following year, when the Treasury balances are struck. Why have we not the usual exhibit for the fiscal year? The country ig entitled to tt. The failure to present it and the substitute in its stead of parts of two fiscal years and of two administrations Js not a satisfactory exhibit. The statement that $7,799,373 has been refunded to the Treasury” does not make the exhivit less obscure. Has such an amount been overdrawn? If 80, for what purpose? And from what iund or appropriation Was this sum—equal to about one- half of the entire naval a) ‘lations for the cur- reat yea! ? If isis made up of transiers or payments trom one. bureau to another, as pre- sented in what is called an “exhibit of expendi- tures,” on tue thirty-seventn page, it amounis lo nothing; for what you call reti 1 13 af BbEO- lute expenditure, ‘The whole stavement needs explanation. The re- funding fiction makes confusion, and is doubtless one of the reasons why the department evades a statement of the condition of affairs at the close of the fiscal year, in accordance wich usage. ‘The estimate submitted by me for naval expenses in December, 1868, amounted to $20,993,614. Con- Fite age them $5,122,882, and appropriated 531. Your estimates for the ensuing year are for $28,205,671, or $7,212,256 more than was asked by me, and §: 1356 more than Oongresa woul authorize one year azo. ‘This does not indicate retrenchment, a reduction of expenses, or greater economy, although you represent that the expenditures made since March are by ‘‘the books of the Treasury” less than the cor- responding months one year ago, when old war con- tracts were being closed up and expenditures were not called ‘‘refunding”—and although you declare you can show “by figures’ ® saving of more than $2,000,000 per annum in the item of coal alone, ‘This letter has already extended beyond tue limits intended, and without comumenting on or criticising other numerous errors, fallacies and exceptional matters, I shail close with the expression of a wish that in your future reports, or communications to newspaper correspondents relating to me or my action, you will personaily investigate and possess yoursell of facts and avoid mfsstavements aod mis- representations. My lever to Mr. Oey was so distorted and falst- fled and its contenta 50 soon made public after it passed tnto your possession, that I shall, to prevent Jurther false interpretauions and for tay own pro- lection, make tuis letver to you public. Very respect- fully, GIDEON WELLES. “THE AED RIVER REBELLION, Treatment of Prisonors—Rieil’s Troops Main- taining Order in Pembina, {Fort Abercrombie (Jan, 5) via St, Cloud, Minao., (Jan, 10) corresponder Toronto Telegraph.) Arrived here Jast nignt, advices have been received from Pembina to the effect that the Canadian troops lave not been sent over tne line, The Canadian prisoners are in jail, and, along with Dr, Schult, are Ted on pemican and er, Yge doctor ts employed with @ yoke carrying water to the prisoners. Father Thinauit has beea allowed in, but 16 escorted every- where by a guard, and is not allowed to hold any communication with the parties in the fort. Colonel Desulaberry bas not been allowed over the ines and 1s at Governor McDougail’s House at Pembina, Dr. Tupper, bis daughter and Captain Cameron are returning to Canada, The Insurgents have pos- session of Fort Garry, Pembina Stone Fort, White. house and Piains Fort. ‘troops are fed from Hud- gon Bay Company's stores and paid out of Hudson Bay vompany’s treasury. Governor Smith was allowed across the lines, Order 18 strictiy kept by Kiel, aud no violation of personal property 1s allowed. Fort Pembma 1s ,arrisoued by Ricll’s troops, and every person crossing the lines. Is strictly searched, and 1 not accepted are taken pris- oners and sent back. A great deal of troubie seems to have originated from some of the Iudians, who were sent up to survey last summer, and using threats to take away the laud from the setters, who held tt uader the Hudson Bay Company's title. The Canadians at Thunder Bay road made thamselves very uopopular and aggravated the lanabivuts py their Imperius manaer, the esti- CUBA. Text of the Bogus Cuban Proclamation. what is Thought of It by Leading Spaniards. The Campaign in the Easter | Department. Astounding Rumors in Cuba—Reported Disso- lution of the Cuban Junta in New York— Text of the Alleged Proclamation—Not Credited by the Government—News of the Insurrection—Slow Progress of Troops— Burning of Estates—Executlous—Dismissal and Punishment of OMgin' : Havana, Jan. 5, 1870. Immediatefy following the departure of the steamer Columbia, on Saturday, the 1st, astounding Tumors were rife here, and so well authenticated that even the most unbelieving were staggered and Spanish Havana glowed all over with pleasurable excitement. Primarily, the insurrection was again ended; the national integrity, the honor of Spain re- Mained preserved, and peace, sceptred with an olive branch, reigned ver ‘the Queen of the Antilies, This most desifable consummation was brought about, first, by the surrender of Cespedes, President the Cyban republic, and Aguilera, his Minister of far; seond, by the surrender of 6,000 insurgents, which, by the time the evening papers were issued, dwindled to 1,600, announced tn the Voz de Cuba as follows:— In Lay Tunas 1,50) rebels have presented themselven to Bonegasl, the gaildut and bravo Benegasl Smploring olemency and acknowledging their faults worthy of punishment. This notice {a official and we can respond for its wutheaticity. But what was regarded as the best authenticated and of most Importance, ag confirming the truth of the annoancement that the insurrection was over, was the stavement that the Cuban Junta of New York had dissolvea and advised those in arms on tus island to submit to the Spanish authority. The For dle ¢ pore sensational in ita Chitactér than its staid contetnporaries, mide a grand parade and Turor over the statement, interlarding it with much interesting writing on the subject of the nacional integridad, et cet. ‘The Prensa and Diarto publishea it in the same words, indicating that it was fur- nished by the government, It 1s as follows:— We are assiired that one of the insurgents, who recently presented bimaclf to Brigadier Goyenucho sia Santi Eapicitu— JORRESPONDENT), placed in the hands of that commandor, with other things, a certain number of proclamations, of which there are some in this city signed ma and the other members of the Junta Cubana in York, in which they counsel the insurgents to lay down their arms immediately ‘nd so prevent the further effusion of biood. In sald procia- mations a Ireation is given of the continued misfortunes which the Laborantes uffered in their concerted enter- rises in the United States, and, as we underacand, a violent tack on the administration ‘of General Grant, assured that the contents of this proclamation | transmitted particularly by telegraph to Pinar del other points in the Cinco Villas, The Voz de Cuba promised the document i full at an early date, and on the 30 it appeared as follows:— CENTEAL JUNTA OF THE REPUBLIC OF CUBA AND Porto [00 :- CuBANS—Not cowardly dismay, which cannot find place manly breasts, but an uninterrupted series of misfortu with whieb it has pleased Providence to ailict us, the com. plete draining of our resources, the culpable indifference of some, the disunion, the vile intrigues and the barefaced am- bition which have influenced many others, the great reinforce. ments which at this moment Spain is sending to Cuba, and the consequent desire to avold tho shouding of blood Qnd to free our adored lund from complete ruln—all these causes united oblige us to direct our voice to you that you may without loss of time, to make those noble sscri- fices which are nseless for the present. Cubans, do not at- tribute to infamous treason of cowardice this language. If you doubt bring to your miad one after the other the misfor- Times which wa have experieuced. ‘The brigantine Mary Lowell, taken in April, with svery valuable eargo of the schooner Lu Have, with another cosily cargo, confiscated afterwards in Jamaica; the imprisonment of a greater part of the members of our first Junta, which took place in June— who will believe it ¥—by the authorities of this country, insti- gated by Spanish agenis and under the frivolous pretext of Our disturving peace; afterwards the seizure by this govern- ment of the expedition which was intended to sail in the steamer Catharine Whiting; the troason conmitted by the North American commodore under whose care we had placed our first ship-of-war, the Cuba, and the following seizure by the authorities of Nassau of the Lillan, which took from us, with two valiant battalions af men, 2,0v0 rittes, eight cannon, ten tons of powder, 1,000,000 cartridges, c.—that ia to, aay, Our last resources; aiid tnally, the deceitful conduct of the Prosident of the United States, who, in bis recent message, hus not only glven to the Cuban gevolution a mortal blow, fatal in its consequences, but has inaugurated the incrediole depreciation with which’ bath houses of Congress have re- fased our just pretansions of bellierancy, and added to these the subsequent delivery of the Spanish gunboats, which will totally impede us fram sending any more assistance—ail con- atituting facts more than suflicient to justify before the world thiaaction. ‘On the other hand, the Spantth government having recently decreed the suppreasion of the direct contribution in Cuba has done wiso.y in taking from the country the principal mo- tive wich actuated many of our soldiers in taking up arm ‘There ls, therofore, no other way open but to iay them down. Cubams, return to’ your labors Work! Recover the great losses which you bava suffered. Fortify youracives, in.short, and be ready for better times not far distant. ‘To you will re main the Incomparable glory of having fought for fourteen months and the benefits to dur country which our enemies, for their own canreniance, give ‘TO us the deception, the ailsery and almost the enti abandonment of our own party. MIGULL ALDAMA. JUSK MORALES LEMUS. SISNERUI HILARIC 8. ENEIQUE PINKIRO. PRANUI: ‘ESSER. New York, Dec. 21, 1869. Only amoung thoge with whom “‘the wish ts father to the thought” 1s any creditgiven to this document here, a8, aside trem the fact that there ts no cause of discouragement to the Cubans, 1t is not thought the Junta woulda, under any circumstances, issue such an address, betraying as it does oniy tue most super- ficial knowledge of what it speaks. The official Ga- getie has up to this day made no mention of it, and the Captain General 14 underatood as placing no con- fidence in it, a3 the first news of the dissolution of the Junta would, of course, come from New York. Evidently, the government has permitted the papers to publish 1, perhaps hasfurmwbed it to them for what it was Worth, but has not ciosen to commit itself to the public, tne date, the 2lsiof De- cember, implants the Jumpress of fadstt y 4 tie course of ten days it would be impossible for is to reach the seas of insurrection from New York and ce he returned to Havana, even if the way ‘wae entirely = As to the other statements" &nd rumors they have proved the merest canards in the world, even the an- nounced surrender of 1,500 men to Benegasi, as the arcival of the steamer Pelayo from Nuevitas and Gibara brings no Word of that officer Ver, con- cerning Whom nothing bas been received for more than two months. Last evening the Voz de Cuba finds it necessary to defend itself from: the charges .of being sensational and untrataful, and half inti- tmates thas it has been deceived. Amid all the extitement caused by tha various statements and rumors thus described, and at about four P.M. on she ist, arrivea boat No. 4 from New York, under command of Ensign Manuel,Guz- man. She to the Muelle de la Machina, where she shipped one ef the args guns which haye been there awaiting the arrivai of these vessels for some time. This gunboat became separated from her companions during a dark night and continued her voyage to Havana without incident. after the usual religious ceremony of blessing and christening her she will proceed to her duties along the coast. In speaking of the peculiarities and diincuities of campaign'ng in thia island, upon which the tnsur- ents have [ese a based theig hopes of success rom the frst, the ‘Voz de Cuda says that, Santi Espiritu and idad are the most mountainous juriadictions of the island. There are in them the Sterras of Esgambray, of La Gloria, of Yaguanal, of San Juan de Letran, of Galvez, oe eins of Potre- vulo and many others, which diversify the land and farnish natural datences to the rebels; but there is aot within them both an area of land equal to that of Puerto Principe, which has 606 square leagues, While the others have combined but3ll. Puerto Principe is, however, but tte mountainous, but has immense forests ‘and 18 traversed by very con- siderable rivers. It is suMciently accessible to troops, but the immense distanees required to pass Tender horses Lecessary and the providibg of sup- phes dimicult. In the two localities thus specified the insurgents have been in largest numbers and the most active, and the operations against them have met with but little success. by the arrival of steamers yesterday at this port and at Batabano, we have later dates from both sides of the isiaud. Journals from Puerto Princtpe to the Ist furniah those of this city with an account of the opening campaign in Camaguey which ap- pearea in the HERALD & week since. Don Felix Ferrer remains in command in Princtpe during the absence of General Puello. The milltary Intendente of the island had arrived there to take personal cog- nizence of what was required for the successful prosecution of the campaign. The sanitary condi tion of the piace had somewhat improved, Letters from Nuevitas, dated the 1st, state that nothing par- ticular has occurred there since the departure of Puelio to the field, Fevers which had been of a mild character were assuming @ malignant type. In speaking of the Dews Irom that section La Prensa says:—‘Neithier in letters from Gibara nor in those from Nuevitas Daye we encountered anything relative vo Colonel Benegasi nor the garrison of Lag ‘Tunas.’? Jt udds:—“Withoul doubt the provisions irom the sotthern coast have ar- rived tnere.”’ ‘the Dtario has correspondence from Gibara under date of the Gist, Which says there are reasons for believing that some of tho rebels of that jurisdiction, fearing the campaign wiich is going on, have endeavorea to Save themselves by takiug small boats to Nassau, Ragged Island and other keys of ihe Bahama Bank,.tasing advantage of the preseat dark nights for that purpose. Your correspondent at-Santiago de Cuba, writing On the 81st ult., aayss— Military operations are maxing littl an oceasioual despatch trou Camara ‘aplete vlatory over the insurgents, Daly Sublime elrategetical conveptigns of ‘7 rogress, and though ue auother com- ine pasa! by tho wlmanode, ty a wel) —TRIPLE SHEET, known that t! their lonsos gre: etcred @ severe Fr iStomae S WRSe o uaas Sl by the Mth and the balance on the 26tb. It will probably be sent him. fie esenton ‘Of those Catalans was very onthusiastic, and town was inan uproar for two days. However, no accidents happened, and yesterday tho “ped caps” were sent to the field. ‘Valmaseda has been named Lieutenant General and ts con- sequently equal in rank to Cabeliero de Rodas. The news of his promotion was celebrated by the Sexniee with sere- uades to which the General responded with beer and is sald to have stopped Up, until half-past ten o'clock P. M., «v1 unusttal on his part, ‘The Haytien steamer Marianne, although free as far as the authoritien are concerned, ia atl here awaiting tyatructions from Port au Prince, The Spanish war steamer quale ver was despatched from Cienfuegos to important de- apatohes from the Captain General % ig this vesee!, ‘but thelr tenor ts aot known. os a : ioe The Bandera Hspaaola \ jeacription of & battle at Joturito wherg - sth ty a fortified, It ended with th ual victory. From Bayer lgarn that a body of volunteers had retuened t6 that aity on the 24tn ult., after tra- verslng the jurisdiction without material resuit. The Imparcig] of Trinidad has a rumor that the tn- surgents under Cespedes had concentrated them- selves in Canto Abajo, in the extreme end of San- tlago de Cuba, It adds that armed parties, of irom 200 to 400 men, had been sent with orders to destroy Beaperty 5 the valley of ‘Trinidad, in O1enfuegos, Sagua, Villa Clara and Remedios. ears are entertained for the gaint of that be} and rich section known as the Vuelf> Abajo. Pubelion Nactonai of Cienfuegos announces that the Chief gerne lary ds Naga large band, with the object appears, of burnt esaia the Vuelto Abajo, and seducing the labor- ers from the Same. On the su tion that this 16 correct the F ibagee has already takeu measures to prevent toy we ‘The. Segundo Cabo had returned to Villa Claraon the 1st, after a visit to the various jurisdictions which comprise bis command. On the ¥0vb ult, Don Victor Carrazana, a chief aud ponruNng agent of ‘vho insurgents, was sbot in that ee le mot his fate quite serenely. On the morning of the 29th was shot, in Cienfuegos, Don Antonio M ac cused of disloyalty. £l Sagua, published tn the city of that name, has @letier from Calabazar, which stavey that on the nighs of the 25th the laborers’ huts attached to te estato Purio were set on fire. A force was sent there, when it was ascertained that on the 23d an attempt had been made to burn the cane. A mulatto slave named Jacob was strongly suspected, and was placed ty prison, ‘Tha surprise of a party of insurrectionists in the vicinity of Remedios 1s telegraphed from Cinco Villas on the ist. ‘hree were killed and some arms captured, The so-calied sub-prefect of Hermando, Don Miguel Rodriguez del Key, and thirty-two others, some witn arms, had presented themselves for par- don, The number of presentations during Decem- ber was ‘The ofticial Gazette publishes reports of unimportant encounters tn Villa Clara and Santt Espiritu, fo consequence of the deplorable state of affairs discovered.in their respective departments by whe Intendente General in tie Custom House of the capl- tal and in the Collector's office of Guanabacos the allowing have been dismissed from office and placed at the disposition of the tribunals of justice:—D. Joaquin Betancourt y Sastre, First Inspector of Cus- tom House of Havana; Don Francisco Lamigueira, Chief of Ship Inspectors; Don Angel Seco de Luna, Chief Storekeeper; Don itafael Serran, late Collec- tor, Guauabacoa, and Don Joaquin Palomina, the present Collector. Several fires have of late occurred in the city, thought to be the work of incendiaries. A new ave- nue is in progress which is to connect the city proper with the more distant parts of tue “Cerro” by @ shorter route. Reported Spnulsh Successes a Cover to Ree verses—The Convoy to Tunas Obiiged to Turn Back—Spanish. Defeat Insisted on by Cubans—The Press Advocating Absolute Sale of Embargoed Property. HAVANA, Jan. 6, 1870, ‘There ig reason to helleve, as suspected, that the recent “news”? of Spanish successes, after much convulsion eettling down into the surrender of 1,500 insurgents to Benegasi, ‘was concocted for the pur- pose of covering some disoster in the very locality Where the surrender is said to have taken place. Following the battle of Las Tunas some months since the Spanish commander, Major Boyneche, being slightly wounded, came to Havana, At the time of his departuro, or soon after, Benegast was re- ported at Las Tunas, having arrived there from Holgain to the relief of the garrison. From that day tothis the name of Benegasi has scarce been mentioned. It was generally undersiood that he was shut up in Las Tunas, from whence there was no communication save through a large force, though, a3 hag been before stated in these despatches, the Cubans insisted that he had been routed and killed. In the esrly part of October a convoy succeeded in passing trom Rayamo to the place, carrying pro- visions and other supplies, calculated to last for two months. Recently another convoy started from the Same place, concernining the fate of which nothing has been made public. On the 4th La Prensa, ot this city, expresged the opinion that it had arrived, but confessed to knowing nothing about it or Bene- gasi cither. Private information from Mansaaillo shows good cause for the silence. A letter written by @ merchant of that city on the 1st says:—A gentle- man of this city, who went with forty men to the Canto river to cut palmieaf, returned last night in the steamer Damouji, stating that he had narrowly eseaped the Insurgents, who had taken twenty-seven of his men prisoners, and had shown so much fight- ing to the columa which proceeded from there last week with a convoy for Las Tunas, that the troops bad to return to Guamo, The Cubans here insist that a great disaster has occurred to the Spaniards in that vicinity, aud the fact of the failure of the convoy to carry the much needed suppiles to Las Tunas gives color of truta to the assertion. Clara arrived at Batahano on ‘The steamer Vil! 4th, bui her correspondence did not reach here until last evening. Up to the ist, througuous Trinidid and Sauti Espiritu, the usual number of smail en- counters, attempts to burn estates and presentations for pardon are reported, but they aiford nothing of interest or determinate, There arrived from Santiago de Cuba last evening D. Carlos Detrure, formerly adjutant of General Prim, who goes to the Peninsula to inform that ofi- cer personally of the condition of the mesurrection. In case of Don Pedro Rivera, charged with com- plictty in the affair for which Seior Lamar, of Matanzas, was recently shot, the death sentence has been commuted to ten years’ imprigonment in the prison of that city. Thé Governor of Matanzas ro- cently issued a clamation, calling on all those knowing of any deposit of arms to make the same known, under the severest Coste within twenty- four hours. After opti hours domiciliary visits would be made,,and all those with whom arms were foand would be judged tn accordance with the order Of the 22a Uctober,91877, + On night of 24th ult, was burned the cotton factory Mirafloras, in the district of Chaloo. ‘the clotn cot- ton in deposit, and the buildinga down to the machinery, were given to the flames. The loss is estimated at $800,000, and very mavy persons are thrown out of employment. : ‘The Voz de Cuba of last evening is out in an article in favor of selling outright embargored property, and devoting the proceeds to loyal sufferers and other patriotic purposes. {tis significant, in view of the fact, tliat such articles in the press ‘heresare apt 10 indicate corresponding action on the part of the authorities, i Don Juan Urien, from Valpariso, and employé in the house of Ramon Herrera, committed suicide a day or two since, by throwing himself from the win- dow, oy account of his failure to draw money in the lottery, which would have enabled him to go to his own country and marry a young lady to whom he Was attached. The statue of Christopher Columbus, heretofore standing in the court of the Government House, 18 to be pear on the pedestal tn the park formerly oc- cupied by the statue of Isabella Segunda. ‘This is Known as “King’s Day” in Havana, a hoil- day to the negroes especiaily. Both men and wo- men, dressed in savage costumes, are parading the Btreets with tom-toms and other instruments and making the day hideous with their noises. The gunboats are momentarily expected and pro- Parations are being made for au entuusidsue recep- Uon of them. - ST. DOMINGO. The Protest of Luperon aud Cabral Against the Sule of Samana. Sr. THoMas, Dec. 30, 1969, The only news from Si, Domingo is the protest of Geuerals Luperon and Cabral against the sale to the United States of Samana, which 18 as follows:— GOD, OUR COUNTRY AND LIBERTY, We, Gregoyio Luperon, General of the armies of the repubdlio@ind José Maria Cabral, leader of the revolutionary movement in the province of the South, having already protested against all the tle patriotic acts of General Buenaventura Waez, placed in the first position of the uation,by an armed faction and Not legally appoimted by, the vole of the people, according to the existing coustitution, do, by tiese Presents, protest, as mi eifect we protest witit grins mm hand, against the sale of Samana witch has just been effected, and agamst the takiog Possession on the Sth of this month of Cape Alevaniado and Cayo Carenoro, in the bay of Sa- mana, in the name of the American government, Tue Cabinet of Washington believes 1 is treating legally and in good rattch with the Dominican Cabi- net. Whatanerror! Tuis President, known by ail of bis treachery to bis country; who has lately en- deavored to abuse the confid or the By h in causing a loan te be contracted in Loudon of £400,000, destined for his personal gain ana that of his sycophants, and who, to obtain ais en granted and nad ratified by his Senate a col Bion Ot £100,000 to the negotiators of the sal scandal which has frustreted the negotiation of the Joun. Ceneral Baez, Wao usurped power with tie sole object of pecuniary gata, solicited a long Ume since of the American Cabjpet to purchase Samana, making thea believe that ne spoke the Wighes of (M9 BALA gD That tue centrags — would bo ratified by the ican Sonate. We reveal to the ontire wor! pecrally bo ms id ond 3) American pom ee nullity of the act. inican Senate, composes of bers devoted to General 4, Boul “ot pion ‘under the ressire of bayont ratify thi iy any’ sentatives of ‘they not petng the free repre+ tion. Our constitution, in one of ts afticleg, Torbids the alienation of all or any part * thefepublic, The President or the Kepre- Sent‘sfiyes who shail violate sno oath which thoy have talon to respect and caudeto be respected tha C“gnatitution shall be declared traitors to the coun- fry, and their acts resulting therefrom shall bo de- Clared null, We bring these facts to the knowledja of the American Senate, who are called upon to lndge the acts of the executive, and we beseech the ternal to enlighten the decision of that illustrious body, so that they may ainelatca: a conduct of General Baez by not sanctioning lis acts. Given Bete headquarters of St. Jean the Oth . LUPERON, December, 1869. SY CABRATs THE SCAFFOLD. Execution of Charley Humphries, Colored, at Columbus, Miss,—His Confession— The Gallows a Tree “imb. {From the Columbus (Miss.) Index, Jan, 8.) The murder of Joun McDaniel last year is fresh tn the sminds of many of the readers of the index, Am eit attag tno ot al ae 01 te Deen to uttend to some business—a jan Who wos auot In a8 the public way, the murderer watching ot the roadside for hours awaiting bis victim, kK awaiting, and when followmg behind the ing his weapon while : from th¢ ae rane at e > PP and inew tne lett, to get a. good alm; finally going immediately benind and seizing the waeel td stop it, unbuttoping the curtain and placing she atol against Ris back and discharging the contents Fito his id He was found lying 1n his buggy a@ few hours afterwards, his horse having been turned in the road that the fiend could get to his pockew to rifle them, te ‘Tom Barry was arrested, and & search for Vet mony against him developed the fact tuat Charl Humphries nad been lying around the neighbor hood. He was arrested after some difficulty oy Cap Ed Dancey and Bob Donnelly. Tne bloody ciothes, the tracks, pistol, nis presence near tid place on the evening and many other circumstances pointed to him as the guilty party. When arraigned for trial one or two white men seemed to take especial iuterest in his acquittal, one of them even consultimg with lawyers for defence. The same party uttempted to get on tha jury, and nothing but the searching inquiry of the late Cnaries R. Grusoe prevented it, There would have been nothing strange in this had be nol worn tnat he had not formed or expressed an opin- ion in regard to his ant or tmocence, when were members of the in his presence to whom h¢ had previopsly made the statement that Charley must be hung, m4 he was lpocent and he could rove an alt ly . Ls On last Toursday eerie Hen the reporter of the Indec that this man (McLiean) procured a negro, whose name we withhold, to do tie deed, and that he (Humphrics) was innocent, Be ail this as tt may, after every form of the law had been complied with and every plea tnat Mercy could make in his behalf bad been exhausted, he was sentenced and that sentence carried into execu tion yesterday in the jail yard. rooal leh clonds ob- was chilly and disagreeable, heavy gray. scuring the gun, but even this did not deter an ink mense crowd irom coliecting to witness the avene, a large number of whom were negro women, ‘and who commenced to come in by ten o'clock. THE PRISONER ate but little breakfast. At ten o’clock the reporter for the /ndez callea upon him, in company witn the Rey. Dr. Lyon. His appearance was baggard, with @ wild, vacaut stare about the countenance that in dicated fear. Upon being mmterrogated he again de nied committing the deed and aecimed making any statement in regard to it until the “time came,” ‘when he would have much to tell. THE GALLOWS was erected in the yard in rear of the jail—the rope bemg thrown over the limb of a tree near the jail door. The prisoner had to step out upon a plank, one end of which rested on the platform at tae top Of the jail steps, the other resting epon an upright plank to which was attached w rope; the pulling of Unis rope caused the plank upon which the prisonel Was to stand to drop. THE CONFESSION. A few moments belore two o'clock the prisoner Made a confession to his spiritual advisers, after which he signified a destre that Colonel Baker and Mr. Adams might be sent lor to take it down fos publication. We found him sitting on asmall box; surronnded by Dr. Shaffer and two colored ministers, his counsel and the police. His head had been neatly corabed and bis dress changed. He stated im substance that Mr. McDaniel was unknown to him, that he had only seen him once before, and that was on the morning of the killing; that be nad been about the Barry place for two or three days, and had made, or was going to make, arraugements vo farm with old Tom Barry, a freedinan; that they wera going to rent Jand aud buy mules; that Tom Barr} told him that he could buy tie mules if he could co! lect what was owing to him; that there was a Yan kee for whom he had worked, who owea him and Who passed the road, and whom he mtended to kill if he did not pay him; that the maa would or had passed that morning, and that they ust go out on the road in the evening as he returned from town and see him; that he was ta meet ‘Yom Barry at the corner of the teuce after dinner; that ne had a pistol and Tom a double-barreiled shotguu; that Tom gave him ammunition to load the pistol; Tom quit work at dinner and gat ut the corner of the fence and waiched for his victim; that when they saw nim coming they went down the road aud took their aces, he occupying @ position near an old gum log and Tom one avout thirty feet below him; that he was to fire and if he missed, fom was to make sure of him; that when he sed he fired, aiming at the midate of ius back. The shot alarined the horse and Tom caught hin and proceeded to rifle pockets, They were to divide ihe booty, but imag. ining that some one Was Coming he fed and ielt old ‘Yom With the body. He was interrogated a3 to McLean’s connection With {t, and said that McLean had some mules and horses hid out there, aud Knew about it, and pro. mised to heip him out of Jail, if he would not tell on him; that Tom barry and McLeanjwere acting to- gether and that To has a gray colt in his posses- sion now that he got from McLean, After making these statements a long black gown Was placed upon Lim and a song given out and sung; then followed @ prayer by Key. Mr. Bolen, the negro member elect of the Legisiature. At the con- clusion of tue prayer the prisoner begged young Mr. McDaniel, son of the raurdered man, to forgive him, which was done as well as could be under the cire ournstances. ‘The prisoner was now merched down to the scaf- fold, where the rope was placed around nis neck. HIS SPEECH, My Fnrienps—Here | am before you, not only one or two, but many. ‘This Js the last time that my voice will be raised in your heartug. Some of you are glad and some sorry; none should rejoice. Tam only taking that which I have worked for. I Mats tell you ali that there 1s but two places to dread; do not dread guns or pistols, but the eee hie that rejoices at my musforcune has himself 0 appear before God, where I am going to dwell in immortal glory. It was the devil that nade me commit this deed and the power of God that kept me in jall thas His eee might be vindicated; for when the jal was broken open and others escaped I had to ai to Blority God, Yes, my frieuds, I am going to be hanged for the glory of God. Tt am going dte, but that is only stepping on the otner side of Jor- dan. { want to be reconciled to God and it 1g this reconciliation that makes me dread hanging. White folks must obey the law. I have seen white folks put in this jail as bad as me who got out by money. Let everybody serve God, serve God, serve God, and let my friends look out for those that L am going to leave veiltnd me. Rev. Mr. Scott, colored, here interrupted him and gave out the following seng, which was sung by the coiored portion of the vast crowd: Why do we mourn at death’s alarms? While the gong was being sung he looked quite cheerful and conversed earnestly with one of the negro deputy sheriffs by his side. Alver the song Was over he called Captain Humphries aud spoke to him, but we could not hear his remarks. At the request of the captain he stated to the crowa that he had Killed Mr. McDaniel to get money to carry on aiarm, He also requested some one to tell his wife that be released her from allyobilgations to ni nd that she was at liberty to marry whom she pl de refused to let the plysicians have his body, but wished his wife to get 1b. After offering a silent prayer, at two minutes to three o’clock the trap fell and he diced without a straggie. His body was cut down in thirty minutes, life beimy extin ARKUST OF THE IMPLICATED ACCOMPLICE. Iminediately after the executign of Charicy Mum- phries, yesterday evening, ‘ftom Larry, colored, was arreated and co: 112 jail upon a charge of ading and avetung in the murder of Jon McDaniel, ENY.—A. SPIRITUALISTIC MARe ondentot the Sourh faven (Miche the following particulars of “Wrirm Your C RIAG -A corre: ian) Sen recent spiritualistte — ‘Tis 18 said to be a progressive Age, And we were most happy to see it verifed om the 2d inst., in the residence of Mr, and Mrs. Well br , of Mr, WUIl Knowles and the well known and popular speaker, Mrs. Frank Reid, it was expected tat Sister Horton would Oficiate upon the ali-waportant asion, but she was prevented by illness, Under the cire cumstances It was decided that tho next best thing would be for the parties to marry themselves. Accordingly, after a few moments’ consultation, the foliowing ceremony Was repeated by them and legale ized by Jusiice Hurlburt: “Frank, wit your consent, before these wit- nesses, 1 acsnowledge you as my wue aud loving wile, ‘the bride responded:—“I, too, William, with your consent, before these witnesses, recei,e you ag Iny loved and Jawiul husband. Our souls united, wo Shull be true tw cach otier bere and im tie graud herealier.”” Afver the ceremony the guests, some fifty in num- ber, partook of @ DOUnUL kod handsomely atrauced reppsty