The New York Herald Newspaper, January 5, 1871, Page 3

Vv tt ti WASHINGTON. A VETO MESSAGE BY THE PRESIDENT. More Cabinet Changes Deter- ’ mined Upon. SECRETARY FISH TO RETIRE. Senator Morton to be Secretary of State. The Pacific Slopers to be Re- membered. Serious Charges Against Sena- tor Sprague. Ulicit Traffic With-Texas’ Rebels Dur- ing the War. Democracy Exercised Over St. Domingo. a The Tho New York Central Railroad Dividend Tax. WASHINGTON, Jan. 4, 1871. More Cabinet Changes Determined Upon Secretary Fish to Retire—Senator Morton to be Secretary of State. Recent rumors of Cabinet changes, though they Rave been premature, have not been without some foundation. It 1s very well understood in certain circles here that there will be a reconstruction or tne Cabinet before the next spring roses begin to vloom. The story Is again revived that Secre- tary Fish will at no distant day retire from the State Department, and this time there seems to be some semblance of uutn in it, Mr. Fish is thoroughly wearied of pub- Me place. He longs for the quiet and repose of pri- vate life, from which he came only at the urgent request of President Grant. Durtng his occupancy of the State Department his career has been any- thing but successful, not to say brilliant. This 1s a fact admitted by his best friends. He has accom- plished Iterally norbing, except to make the foreign policy of the administration weak and unpopular. Even his friends admit the fact that nota single thing he has attempted has been carried to asuccessful con- clusion, The Alabama claims, the Cuba business, the fishery question are all in about the same posi- tion as Mr. Fish found them when he came into the State Department. Mr. Fish will of course retire vetuntarily, still possessing the confidence of the President, He will not resign until early in the Spring, probably about the beginning of March. His family announce that this will be their last winter here and they are waking arrangements to move away from Washington in the spring. It is generally under- stood here that Senator Morton, of Indiana, the Presideni’s right hand man and confidential ad- viser outside of the Cabinet, wili be Mr. Fish’s suc- cessor, By the time Mr. Fish retires the present democratic Legislature of Indiana wil have ad- journed stae die. It does not meet in maul the yinfer of 1873, by. which. pe ‘anew Legislature will have been eletted, aha Mr. Morton thinks it will be republican. At all events the objection which had so great weight with him when be was appointed Minister to Eng- Jand—to wit, that 1f he accepted, his place in the Senato wanld be Tiedlibiagmnenncrat-—wil not hold good after the present Legislature adjourns. The Governor of Indiana wiil then be at liberty to ap- point Mr. Morton’s successor, and, being a republi- can, he will appoint a man of that political faith. Should Mr. Morton be appointed Secretary of State it is hkely that the whole foreign policy of the administration will be changed. He is a man of great vigor of thought and energy of action, and will not rest satisfled with the easy, slipshod policy which Fish has pursued. Besides making the foreign policy of the administration popular with the people, Mr. Morton will have a reputation to make for himself as Granv’s Prime Minister. It will be re- membered that he was in favor of the Cubans when they were here, pleading in vain with Mr. Fish for some show of recognition. So far as is known he has not changed ms views on that sub- ject. He 1s also in favor of a vigorous policy towards Great Britain about the settlement of the Alabama claims, the fishery question, and other points of difference between this country and England. As is well known, he 1s thought in accord with the President on the subject of acquir- ing a strong foothold in the West Indies. He is, altogether, perhaps the most practicable statesman in Congress, a fact which Grant has not been slow to discover, and his presence in the Cabinet would give fresh courage to the republicans and place the administration in a better position before the it wy than it occapies at present. rm A Sop for the Pacific Slopers—Senator Wi liams to Be Attorney General. A number of prominent republicans from the Pa- cific Coast, including Representatives from Califor. nia, Oregon, Nevada, Montana, New Mexico and Arizena, have formed a combination to push Sena- tor Williams, of Oregon, into the Cabinet. They addressed a leter to the President to-day asking when it would beconvenient for him te give them an interview. They received a reply this afternoon stating that the President would see them to-morrow at twelve o'clock. Notwithstanding the fact that the Pacific slope has gone over to the democracy the Fepubicans of that section feel that Senator Wil- ams 18 entitled to some recegnition by the administration on account of his distin. guished services to the party and the country during his Senatorial career. It seems to be well understood here that before the close of the Present Congress Attorney General Akerman will voluntarily retire from the Cabinet for the purpose ef deveting himself to the more congental pursuit of ‘the practice of his profession in Georgia, When this Occurs the republicans of the Pacific coast are anxious that Senator Williams shali be Akerman’s successor in the Cabinet. This will be the subject of thelr interview with the President to-merrow. It ts understood that the President has already spoken of Senator Williams favorably in connection with some prominent appointment after the expiration of his Senatorial term. Last summer, when Gencral Cox retired from the Interior Department and some of Senator Williams’ friends urged his appointment to that position the Pres} dent replied that he would make provision for bim when the proper time arrived, meaning before he left the Senate, The ability of Senator Wililams as alawyer has been long recognized by his fellow Senators, and it pecuilarly fits him for tne position of Attorney General. He 1s the author of some ot the most important measures enacted since the close of the rebellion. He drew and advocated successfully the bill for the more efficient government of the States lately in rebellion, better Known as the Milltary Reconstruction bill. He is the author, too, of the famous Tenure of Omice bill, and had a good deal to do with the Civil Rights bill and kindred measures of national importance. It is hardly to be expected that the President will com- mut himself to the Pacific Coast delegation when ‘they call upon him to-morrow, but it 1s believed that when Akerman goes out Williants will be his suc- cessor, The New Jersey Senatorship. ‘The probable succesror of Mr. Cattell a# Senator from New Jersey is a subject of considerablé\conver- sation here. Mr. Cornelius Waish and Mr. Freder- ick T. Frelinghuysen are the two most promynent candidates, With reference to sfatements to the day overthe St, Domingo question. YORK HERALD, THURS DAY, JANUARY 65, 1871.—TRIPLE SHERT. effect that the Presitent bad indicated his pre - ference, it 18 proper to remark that he ha ~ not opimon on such matters. good republican Senator will be chosen, and that is all the President desires, and Mr. Frelinghuysen are well known to be very estim: who 1s to be “the coming man’ there seems to be a dispos.tion were among parties high in position to favor tne selectton of Mr. they say he would reflect honor on his party and his State, and that no better successor to Mr. Cattell could b@ sent from New Jersey to the the other hand, it 1s sald that since health has prevented him being a candidate, tho friends of Cattell and of Secretary Robeson regard desirable te express any It ts believed that a deemed = tt Both Mr. Walsh genulemen, and while tt 1s yet uncertain Waish. At teast wi On . Vattell’s ir. Frelinghuysen as their second choice, Congressional Skirmishing Over St. Domingo. There was @ slight skirmish in both Houses to- In the Senate Mr. Sumner called up big resolution requesting the President to commanicate certain documents touch- ing St. Domingo now on file in. the several execu tive departments, Unlike the Morton resoldtion, it went through without opposition, Those who are opposed to St. Domingo are disposed to regard this acquiescence ffi Sumnér’s _resolation as @ part of the general programme which they have ,marked out to secure the annexation of St. Domingo, According to Mr. Sumner, if tne President makes full answer to tlus resolution tuere will be @ flood of light shed upon the whole business which will astonish the country and make the visit of the proposed commis- sion ¢o St, Domingo entirely useless. The opponents of St. Domingo say that the President will furnish only a pa.tal answer, leaving out the most impor- tant documents, and assign as a reason for so doing that it 1s incompatible with the public mterests to spread them before the country. On the other hand, the President’s friends assert that he will send to @e Senate everything in his possession on the subject, A few days will tell the story. In the House Fernando Wood endeavored to get a resotu- tion in similar in substance to ttat of Sumner, cnly that it was more explicit as to details. Prompt ob- jection was made by Orth, of Indiana; Maynard, of Tennessee, and others. On the heels of this General Banks, chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, gave notice that on Monday next ‘he would report back from his committee the reso- lution which he offered some time ago i reference to St. Domingo. It will be remembered that this resolution provided for the appointment of @ commission of tive instead of three, and that the eanderstanding was that it should not be reported back to the House until after the chairman of the committee nad given five days’ notice, The committee will meet to-morrow for the purpose of consideging this resolutien. Mr. Wood, who is a member of this committee, asserts that General Bauks was not authorized to state that the resolution would be reported back on Monday. It has never been considered in committee, and it is not known whether a majority are in favor of it or whether they will agree to something else. Banks purposes to offer as a substitute Morton’s Senate resolution, or something like it. If he cannot get his committee to agree to this he will meve te suspend the rules on Monday forthe purpose of taking the Senate resolution from the Speaker’s table and pass- ing it. This will of course require a two-thirds vote, but the friends of the measure assert to-day that they have strength enough to do it. Democratic Uaucos—Manifest Pestiny vs. An- nexation of St. Domingo. Immediately after the adjournment of the House to-day the demveratic members metin cancus in the room of the Committce on the Pacific Railroad. There was no formal organization, but a geueral conversa- tion ensued upon the course the democrats should pursue with reference to the St. Domingo business in the House. It was agreed that the ancient policy of-the party had been in {gvor of tue doctrine Known as Manifest destiny, or, im other words, the annexation of new terri- tery. This was still the policy of the arty, but it could now ried out by fraud and rm waa arated aatheukaeitatemt to anhé® Sh Dowiigd Wad covered all over with fraud and jobbery, and therefore the aemocralg conld have nothing to do with it. Some of the members of the caucus argued that the proposition of the President did not come within the scope ef Manifest destipy, inasmuch as the obj:ct was to anhox Ob’ y a pray ff Gadslaud instead of the whole of it, The character of the population of St. Domingo was also urged as an objection to it, the democrats believing that the population is com- posed almost wholly of negroes; but’ on this subject the democrats do not appear to be well informed. They seem to cenfound Hayti with Dominica. Tae population of Hayti 1s chiefly negro, but that ot Do- minica has a large representation of the Spanish element in it. Upon the whole, however, the caucus decided that the proper ceurse for the demecrats to pursue is to oppose the St. Domingo dusiness at every stage of the attempt to annex it, and with this understanding tne caucus adjourned. Civil Service Reform—Senater Trumbull’s Bill Killed—Another Constitutional Amenc- ment. The subject of dispensing the federal patronage was up in both Honses to-day, but nothing came of it. In the Senate Mr. Trumbull called up his bill making ita misdemeanor for members of Congress to solicit office from the Executive. Mr. Trum- bull made a few remarks in support of the bill, after which Senator Morton, who seems to have been waiting for this measure since last session, delivered a short but powerful speech, in which he riddled and ridiculed the whole project, exposing its absurdity and proving that it is inexpedient, if not unconstitutional. The bill does not seem to have received much attention from Senators, except from Trumbull, and its real effect was not known until its provistens were ex- plained and exposed to-day by Mr. Morton, It went over until to-morrow, when Trumbull pre- poses to defend it; but the general im- pression among Senators is that it is practicaliy dead. Had Senator Cameron been able to get the floor to-day he would have moved to lay the bill on the table, and those who seem to be posted say there weuld not have been half a dozen Yotes against Cameron’s motion. In the House General Coburn, of Indiana, offered @ joint resolution in the shape of an amendment to the constitation of the United States touching this dispensation of the federal patronage. Coburn’s amendment provides that Congress may *by law vest the election ef all officers o the United States whose duties require them to reside in the several States, except Judges and officers of the courts of the United States, in the people of the several States, districts or localities therein in which they are by law required to perform their duties, subject to the direction and regulation of the President and the heads of departments, and to agrest, Suspension or removal by the President ef the Unitea States, General Coburn nas an idea that this 1s about as faras the republican party can get at present on the read to civil ser- vice reform. He contends that his amenament to the constitution would, if adopted, enable the people of the State, district or locality where the oficers’ duties are to elect them: that Is, such as postmasters, Internal revenue officials, land and pension agents, and all other officials of the civil administration of the United States, except oficers of the United States courts. It would, at the same time, leave all foreign, territorial, departmental and judicial officers of the United States to be ap- pointed as at present. 4 Veto Message of the President. The President to-day sent the following veto mes- sage to the House:— ‘To TH HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES—I herewith return, without my approval, House bill No. 1,885, eniisied “An act fer the relief of Charles Cooper, Gashom Jones, Jerome Cowley, William Hannegar and Join Haguegan,”.or the following reasens:— ‘The act directs the discontinuance of an action at law pending in the United States District Court for the Northern district of Ohio for the eniorcement of the bond executed by sald parties to the United States, whereas, in fact, no such suit is pend- ing im the District Court; but such a suit ta now pending 10 the Circuit Court of the United States for the Sixth Circuit an@ Northern district of Ohio. Neither the body of said act ner the proviso refers to the oblgorsa in said bi who are released rum ail liability to the United States thereof, to abandon or release their pretended ciaim against the government. Since these parties have e to Con, to oak relief from liability fora jarge sum of money en account of the failure of the ey onthe vond to execute their contract it 13 just and Boag ‘lulu Heset at the same ay i e Oy out of th the ™m against ihe government wrowing ut of, e EXBCULIVE MANSION, Jan. 4, 1871, Senator Sprague’s Alleged Trae with tho Toxas Rebels. In response to the Senate resolution of December 14, offered by Senator Sprague, the Secretary of War to-day transiitted to that body a copy of a report of the Judge Advocate General relative to an alleged nalawfal traile with rebels in the State of Texas dur. ing the late war, enterecL into by Mr. Hoyt, William Sprague, @ Senator of tne United States, Byron Sprague, William H, Reynolds, and others; aod states that none of the papers therein referred to, nor any record of them, can uow be found in theWar Department. It 18, however, possibie that certain of them may be en die at the headquarters of the Department of the Kast, in New York city, and search for them will be made and the result here- after reported, The repory of, the Judge Advocate Geweral ls as [oLOWS i= peer eg Senge ae fol Ml rs oF Minthihiy Justice, June 15, 1805, To THE SECRETARY OF WaR—The following re- port 18 respectfully submitted respecting tne case Of illicit trade to Texas, unplicating Hoyt, Sprague and others, bronght to the noticé of the depart. ment by Major Genera! Dix. The papers herewith, ons of he abstracy ¥ statements of Byron pray id othe: repaired by noes Barber, letters Of William Sprague to General Dix, papers found upon Hoyt, aud tke latter's confidential statement, which, it is stated, 13 only to be used to case Heyt 18 made a witness forthe government, have all been examined, and show im substance that bane residing In Texas at the breaking out of the rebeilion, 48, his way North, where, in the fall o » be effected an engagement Seth PAA Sprague Ma under- taking an enterprise to get cotign gut 9! x Four’ frns took an interest it ae Ceara Sprague & Co., Reynolds & Co., Taft & Co. and Knight & Co.—and ail of Providence, R.1., each firm furnishing $25,000. Vessels were purchased and each was loaded with a cargo of machinery, arms& ud cleared fer foreign ports, but were ran to Texas, sometimes under a changed flag. Mr. Hoyt proceeded thither upon one ei the vessels, carrying Ieters of introduction from Governor 8 ue commend, him to General Butler and Admiral Farragut. The papers enclosed do not give an entirely clear account of subsequent opera- tions, and some uf the evidence taken does not seem to have peep forwarded. It 1s unnecessary, however, in this report to go into all the detalls. It is sufMicient to remark that the cargoes of goods were sold in Texas, and the proceeds were invested in cotton,’ ft part Of which appears to have been gotten out, Wie some portions were seized by our blockading cruisers, William Sprague has written several letters to General Dix in regard to the case, in none of which does he adinit, and in one ot which he denies, a knowledge of Hoyt and of the details ef the operation, such as is indicated by letters from bim ieund en Hoyt, who expressly declares Wiliam Sprague to have been cognizant of the progress of the business and to have advised and aided it tothe utmost of his power, It is stated by William Sprague that the object was to ald Union citizens in Texas and obtain information for the government; but no one else connected with the venture seems to have viewed it in that hght, and Byron Sprague, his partner avers, had special charge of the specula- tion, and plafaly described 1t as an undertaking to et Out cetton. Major General Dix, in a letter to he Secretary of War, dated March 23, says:— The parties who furnished the capital, Kuowing how it Yaso be exaployed, were Messrs. William Sprague, United States Senator; Byron Sprague, his brother, and Willfam 4. Reyuoide and Company. Tneas gentlemen were all engaged in business ip Providence, R. J., where the enterprises wera fitted out, Messrs, B. B.'and R. Knight, and Messrs. Oway Tall & Co. of Frovidence, algo furnished & part of the capi. tal, but 1 is not clear that they were fully advised of the manner ia which it would be used. The high social standing ofthese gentlemen makes the cage, one of great delicacy, and I regard it also as @ question of importance whether the Proceedings against them should be by a military commis- sion or in aclvil court; whether the facts charged, if proved, constitute @ meré violation of the laws of war, ora higher crime under the constitution of the United States. There are ‘at least two witnesses to the fact of illicit trade and ample written proof. Harris Hoyt and Charies L. Prescott, who were parties In interest, are willing to testify to all the facts in the case, provided that their doing so shali not iusure their own conviction, Jt appears that among the articles purchased in New ‘kK to betaken to Texas were some arms and ammunition, and on the invoice of the cargo with which Aoyt went from Havana to Matamoros were thousands of cartridges and percussion caps. From an examination of all the papers this Bureau is of the opinion that the persong who were eé! ed in this uniaw‘ul trafic may be bropght to trial before & general court martial, under the fifty-sixth article of War, for reliey; © enemy money and hith fw allitan / wit ammunition, of commission, violat- ling and pond Teh, ug the laws of warn trai ‘Obrse with the enemy. It is for the Secretary of War to declare whether, in view of all the circum- stances and of the present condition of affairs, their ial shail be ordered. J. BOLT, Advocate General. OfMicial copy. woe? Tho New York Central Railrond Company’s gun ‘crip Dividend Case. In response to the resolution eifered by Senator Nye aug agreed to Deceinber 14 requesting the Sec- retary of the Treasury to “communicate to the Sen- ate the proceedings that have been had relative to the collection of the tax on $45,000,000 scrip divi- ‘Wend of the New York Central Railread Company and whether the said tax has been paid into the Treasury of the United States,” Secretary Boutwell to-day sent to the Senate a copy of a communica- tion addressed to him by the acting Commissioner of Internal Revenue, under @ate of December 17, in which, after quoting the resolution, the iatter says:— You request that this offiee will furnish you with any information it may lave on this subject. In reply | have to state that tue only instance in which the liability of the New York Central Rallroad Com- pany to a tax on scrip dividend has been referred to this ofice for consideration and decision relates to the question of taxing as a sctin dividend the sum 23,036,000, the same representing tha issue by company on December 19, 1568, of interest cer- Uiicates te the amount of eighty per cent of its capi- tal stock. . The proceedings of this office with refer- ence to assessiNg and collecting atax of five per cent upon sald eighty Her cent scrip issue have been as follows:—0n tue Lith of June this pings fupegted Supervisor Sinythe. of thé Northern district of New York, to investigate the affairs of the New York Central Rajiroad Company with spécial reference to its repre tax upoa the aforesaid issue of scrip, On the 1éth February, 1870, in view of the evidence presented by Mr. Smythe, Supervisor O*Donoell, his successor, Was instructed to cause an Immediate ag. sessment of tax of five per cent on said scrip. March 5, 1870, an assessment of $1,151,800, the same representing a tax of five per cent upon $23,026,000, was made against this cempany, and a list containing said assessment passed 1e Collector Bailey, of the Fourteenth district of New Yerk. This assesstnent was ordered at the time in order te save. the government from being barred from the assessment of a tax un- der the fifteen montis’ limitation contained in section 20 of act June 80, 1864, as amended by sec- Uon 9 act July 18, 1866, and to enable the question of liability te be determined upon the ¢laun for abatement or refunding, as the case may be. The lax has not yet been collected. The collection has been suspended at three different times, ence by a telegram dated March 26, 1870, again by a letter dated April 9, 1870,and the last suspension was or- dered on the 22d November, when the collection was stayed until January 2, 1871. These suspensions had Veen ordered at the urgent request of the President C. Vanderbilt and others in venalf of the company, in order that they micht, as they claimed, have ample opportunity te collect and forward evidence in behalf of the company. It is prover to ad@ that the seeming delay on the part of this office In decid- ing to collect the said tax has arisen from what it conceived to be not only the desirabieness, bur the necessity of having all the statements of the company on their ewn behalf before ef east 80 Important & question, and from the repeated delays ol the company in furnishing such etatements. The resolation relat lated ee in accordance with your request. Very respectfully, J. W. DOUGLAS, Acting Comimssioner. Pacific Railroad Bonds. Representative Sargent to-day made a report on tne House resolution to secure Indemnity to the United States in certain cases. Me stated the report had been drawn by George Lawrence, of the sub- committee. The report gives the history of the Pacific Rall- road—the terms upon which it Was authorized to be constructed, quoting the acts of Congress; amount of ponds wssaed and the recent opiuion of the At- torney General of the United States, The committee say the Union Pacific, Sioux City and Pacific com- pames have responded that the law does not require them to pay either principal or interest of the bonds unul their maturity. The other companies made no answer, and none of them have made apy payment. to ret on interest account imere than half the amount of their earnings for the transportation of the government malls, freights, troops, &c. On the 6th of December a bill was Introduced in the House of Representatives, and referred to the Committee on Appropriations, which provides that tue said bonds und ail sums due or to become due for inter- est on the principal paid or which may be paid shall constitate @ lien on all lands which have been or may be so granted and Which remain undisposed of by the companies. It also provides that lands shail only be soid with the approval of the secre- tary of the Treasury, and on condiitons which shall secure the proceeds to be applied, As far as necessary, to retmburse the United Staves for ali sums that have been or may be advanced wo pay ihe interest on the principal of bonds, and to Dually pay the bonds; and the United States shail not pay aby mouey to any company while it may be indebted to the government, but shali make a set off. As to the right of set off between individuais, it does not exist at common law; but as it 18 re- quired in equity and made available by courts of chancery, and has been introduced judicially at law by statutes, it would seem proper to give the sauc- tion of an act of Congress to a might so manifestly equitable and just. The bil, in efect, provides that, for all sums due, or which sball beceme due the United states, for interest paid for com| A the government shall bave a lien on the lands of company. This will simply give the United practically, a their proceed ‘their bi in ty jho payment ‘They deny the right of the United States | the road, unless these debts be otherwise adequately secured. These aebts are either to the holders of first mortgage bonds, subsidy bonds or to the genu- eral creditors of the companies, with or without tie specie security. To some or all of these the lands should be applied, at Jeast so dar as necessary to their pa. ent. The claim of the government ts paramow There is no reason Why such vast in- terests sh 1 be left to the exclusf¥e decision or cempanies, as they are not alone interested, it is only ihe dictate of justice that property granted on conditions 8) ibe made to execute thore condl- tions, and especially when no longer required sor any other pu: of grant. Tpls wail only give to the government performance of a condition created for its benet regardiess of al] others, The cominit- tee conclude by ayia Mo ftiSons extst tor conced- Mg More than the law hag already conceded. The concessions have already becn on a grand scale by them, sabject to rights reserved. The government should abide, To secure the performance of the popant ns Imposed by the Jaw Uus bill 13 submit- , With 4 recommendation that it be passed. Nominations Sent tp the Senate. The President sent the following nominations to the Senate to-day:— D. EB. Lyon, to be Surveyor of Customs at Dubuque, Tow + George Newcomb, to be Collector of Customs af Beaufort, N. C.; M. D. Leggett, of Ohio, to be Commissioner of Patents; Charles M. Power, to be Collector of Sistas at Cherrysione, Va.; John aA. ¢ Indian uinms, to mt at the Umatilla Agency, ashington Territory ; ol J. Mont Pubic Money at Zawiston, Idahor Charles B. Sines, to be Pension Agent at Topeka, Kansas. Postrnasters. Phin R. Gould, — Lituetown, N. H.; Walter D, Blaisdell, Plymouth, N. M.; ©. J. Amidon, Hinsdale, N, H.; Oliver Nutter, Lancaster, N. H.; James M. Saga Ta eer ag | E. D. to be Recetver Vass Hall, Okolona, Miss.; P. E, Ezekiel, Aiken, 8. .; Henry B. Weils, Dowagiac, Mich.; Craig B. Beebe, Beaver Dam, Wis; J. LeParmelee, Aurora, Ill; Ed- N.Y.; Mf. 8. Wells, Pair- ward Ward, Qloversvil! port, Ne Yo og OpeFatlons of the Marine Revenne Service. N. B. Devrenx, Chief ot the Division of Marine Revegue, Marine Hosptials and Life Saving Stations, in his report te the Secretary of the Treasury, says the service at this time comprises twenty-four steamers, large and small, and ten sailing vessels, Of this number three are on the Pacific coast, twenty-five on the Atlantic and Gulf coast and six on the lakes. From the period of the troduction of the vessels upon the lakes to the present time a large number of disabled vessels have been relieved and rescued from total wreck and fourteen men and two women have been saved. The exhibit of service performed by the revenue cutters from 1860 to 1870, inclusive, shows that 139,678 vessels were boarded and ex- amined, 1,193 seized and reported, and 1,224 assisted in distress, that 174 lives were saved, and 1,592,206 miles were sailed. Mr. Devreux makes vartous Tecommendations, saying:— If the Secretary and Congress acquiesce in the several suggestions offered there can be no reason, it seems to me, why, with the ¢ Lo lip? already nade and the propesed reforms approved and 1n process of consummation, the revenue marine may not be made to uvccupy a powerful and commanding pest- tion as an arm of the government, He reviews the recommendatiofi for the im- mediate establishment of a government hospital at New York, on David's Island. A portion of the re- port is devoted to life saving stations and to lite- boats—as to the latter the very best that can be pro- duced, The National Committce of the Union League. The National Executive Committee of the Union League of America will meet for organization at Willard’s Hotel, in Washington, on the 13th inst. Ex-Governor William A. Newell, of New Jersey, will probably be re-elected Chairman, although the names of ex-Governor Jewell, of Connecticut; Joel F. Asher, Member of Congress from Missouri, and C. W. Gedard, ef New York, have been mentioned im connection with this position. As the Union League of America by its peculiar methods of or- ganization 1s leoked upon as a powerful auxiliary of the republican party, seme curiosity 1s manifested to knew whether the committee will indicate any new line of policy, especially on certam ques- tions now pending before Congress. It is believed by many that the committee will take positive ac- tion oayuany tmportant matters. 2 Revabu ae ie if Stamp Contract Awarded. Joseph R. Varpenter, of Philadelphia, has been hotified by the Secretary of the Treasury of the ac- ceptance of his bid {or manufacturing and deliver- ing government adhesive stamps, and the terms of the contract having been agreed upon he will to- morrow sign the agreement and enter into bonds for the faithful performance of its stipulations. These stamps will bereafter be printed on the same kind of paper as is used for the United States currency, which is to be furnished by the government without the water mark. The contract specifies that new plates shall be engraved and all the stamps prepared in two distinctive colors by plate prititing. “One Of the colors 1s to be a fugi- tive ink, so that any attempt to remove the cancel- lation by chemicals will instantly deface it, ana thereby prevent its being reused. The vignette of the general stamp will be that of Washington, the same as at preseat; but the border and the lathe work will be of entirely new designs. There 1s to be an additional stamp, of the denomination of $500, the highest at present being but $200; both of these will be printed im three colors, and the design furnished 1s a specimen of superior workmanship. The contract also speci- fies that the engravings of ali private dles for pro- prietary stamps and the printing of the same shall be done by Mr. Carpenter, who il also be autho- rized to impriat the government stamp upon drafts, checks and other iustruments requiring stamps. The number of adhesive stamps of all denomina- tions and kinds used dnring the year past was four hundred and fifty millions, The balanee of the stamp contract for furnishing beer and whiskey stamps will be awarded 80 g00n as the Secretary of the Treasury has concluded the arrangements for furnishing the adhesive stamps. Vinnie Keam’s Statue of Lincoln. Miss Vinnie Reat’s statue of Lincoln, on betng privately eXamined in its case this morning, was found to be uninjured by the voyage from Italy. Only Miss Ream and several friends mex. present. Crowds of persons watched with much interest, this afternoon, the arrangements in the rotunda of the Capitol for placing the statue on the pedestal, It will not be opened tor public exht- bition for several days, as some of the marble sup- ports are first to be removed, and the Secretary of the Interior is to give instructions concerning it. Commissioner Pleasant Private Secretary. Citfford Thomson, who was the first Deputy Col- lector under General Pleasanton in the Thirty-second New York district, was to-day appointea Chief of Supervisors and Detectives of the Internal Revenue, and will Mil the position recently occupied by the son of Commissioner Detano. He likewise holas a confidential relation to Genera! Pleasanton and may be styled his private secretary. Internal Revenue Records Burned. Mark J. Mealing, the Assessor of Interna) Revenue at Sedalia, Missouri, telegraphed to the Internal Revenue Bureau to-day that his oiice and all the records were destroyed by fire. New National Banks. The Comptroller of the Currency has authorized the organization of the First National Bank at Niles, Michigan, at Franklin, Kentucky, and Washington, Jowa, each with & capital of $100,000, Treasury Disbursements for Docember. The follewing are tne disbursements of the ‘Treasury Department for the month of December, exclusive of the amoant paid on account of the re- demption of the pubile dept:— Civil and miscellaneous War.. nd Indians, Navy Interior, pensions Total. $14,522,569 Sudden Death at the Capitol. Cnarles [. Miller, of Michigan, clerk of the Senate Committee on Commerce, was found dead this morning in @ water closet of the Capitol. He left his boarding house a short time previously, and was apparently in good health. The physiclans pro- nounce the cause of his death to have been apoplexy. The deceased was about sixty years of age. He was much respected by ail who knew him. Commissioner Parker’s Vindication. General Parker, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, had an interview with the President to-day. He has not yet made any reply to the allegations contained in the recent report of Mr. Welch, but will after the completion of the report of nis visit to the Indian convention at Ocmulgee present statements to the committee investigating the charges. The Indian Appropriat! Bil reported to-day appropriates $4,359,509, or a mullion leas than last session. The Duty on Rassian Hemp. The Secretary of the Treasury writes to the Collector of Cugtoms of New York thatthe Devart- ment is of opinion that by the act of July 16, 1970, untnanufaetured Kussian hemp is subject to a duty of twenty-five dollars per ton, and lie is directed to assess the duty at that rate, Consw) Ke-ognized. The President has recognized Manuel Borges de Treitas Henriques as Vice Consul of Brazil at Boston, STATE LEGISLATURES. Avavsta, Jan, 4, 1871. The Legislature convened to-day. The Senate organized by the choice of Charies Buitum, republi- can, of Orono, fer President, he receiving 27 votes to 1 for Mr, Torrey, democrat. 8. W,. Lane was elected Secretary. The House organized by the choice of Edwin B, Smith, of Saco, for Speaket, he receiving 109 votes to 26 for Edwund S Wuson, of Thomaston, 8. J. Chaddourne was elected Clerk by about the same vote, The Secretary of State placed before each branch the Gubernatorial vote, and a cominittee was ap- pointed to count the same, The caucuses for State officers will be held this even'ng, and the Governor elect will be maugura ed to-morrow. Massachusetts Legistature. Boston, Jan. 4, 1871. The Massachusetts Legislature met to-day and premptly organized by re-electing the oflicers of last year. HL. D, bia pony the unanimous vote of the Senate for Mesident, and the Hense elected Harvey Jewell Speaker, witn but five dis- senters, After organization both branches pro- ceeded to the Old South Church to hear the annual sermon, Which was preaehed by the Rev. Charles B. Grinnell, of the Harvard Unitartan cho Governor Claflin’s Message 13 expected on Satur- ye are ees mn Pennsylvania Legislature. HARRISBURG, Jan. 4, 1871. Governor Geary’s Message was read to the Legis- lature to-day. He reports that the State debt has been reduced to $31,111,660 by the payment of $1,648,187 during the year. He recommends the selling of the assets in the sinking fund, s0 as to pay off, in 1872, nearly eight millions, then falling ‘due, of’ the vondea debt, He re- commends a convention for revising he State constitution, He calls attention to the unsettled condition of the Delaware boundary line, and adverts to the didcuity that might arise if citi- zens of Pennsylvania should be seized on disputed territory aud subjected to the disgraceful and ab- horrent piliory and the whipping post, as autnor- ized by the laws of Delaware. He exp ed un- qualified disapprovel of the employment of government troops at Congressienal elections as an interference with the sovereign rights of a State not contemplated by the founders of the national government. and which might lead to disastrous re- sults. He advocates the holding of the centennial celebration, and says the location of Independence Hall points to Philadelphia as the locality proper for it. He opposes {ree trade fallacies, and de- hounces the introduction of coolies as One of the greatest evils Uiat can befall the touing nulilions of the country. * The Michigan Legislature. LANSING, Jan. 4, 1871. ‘The House met at eleven o’cleck, and after prayer by the Rey. J. H. MeCarthy, the roll was called and members presented their credentials and were sworn in. ‘The Senate organized by the election of oMcers nominated in the republican cancus last night. Both houses took a recess untii two o'clock, The Governor's Message will probably be read this after- noon, ane Senatorial contest seems to be narrowing Wi. Ilinois Legisiature. SPRINGFIELD, IL, Jan. 4, 1871, Both honses of the Illinois Legislature convened to-day. 4. P. Root, of Cook county, was elected temporary chairman of the House, and James R. Magie, of Fulten county, temporary C) The members presented their credentials, when the House adjourned. In the Senate permanent officers were elected. and the Governor’s Message was read. The Senate then adjourned util ten o'clock to-mor- pow. Michigan Legislat LANSING, Jan. 4, 1871. Tne Senate at the afternoon session to-day did nothing of importance, The House elecied as officers the nominees of the republican caucus, and immediately after the organization the Governor was mformed, and he replied that he would meet both houses in joint convention at half-past ten A. M. to-morrow and read his message, This document gives the population of the Siate, according to the recent census, at 1,184,206, and predicts that the next equalization will show an aggregate real and personal estate of $500,000,000. ‘The financia! summary ts the same as given recentiy in the synepsis of the State Treasurer's re- port, and the estimates show that if the same rate of taxation now existing is continued for Uae pext two yeart and the appropriations are tot largely in- creased the State will be able to pay easily all the bonded debt that may mature between this and the next bienula’ someting. A cations of repiitiican Senators was held to-night in the hati of the Representatives. it was crowde in every part, aud prominent members of doth pi tley were present, Speaker Woodman was in the cha Mr. T. W. Ferry was chosen for President of the Senate on the sixth paliot. Tremendous excite- ment followed. Mr. Ferry soon appeared and made a speech returning thauks for the henor, that 7 Indiana Legislature. Inpranoporis, Jan. 4, 1871. The Indiana Legislature convenes to-morrow. The democrats have a, majority in the House. In the Senate the republicans have a majority, Each pea. is holding a caucus to-night, and the democrats ave nominated tie Hon, Willi Mack, of Vigo county, for Speaker, and H. Holmes, of Jackson, for principal Clerk. Samue RAILROAD LITIGATION. The Hartford, Providence and Fishkill Rail- road Company’s Bonds—Payment of Inter- est Demanded in Gold. HARTFORD, Jan. 4, 1871. Some trouble has arisen between the city authori- ues of Providence and the trustees of the Hartford, Providetice und Fisnkill Railroad Company, on the payment of coupons on bonds ef the road, the trea- surer of that city insisting upon payment being made in gold and refusing a tender of payment in cur- rency. Heretofore the payment has been made in currency. The refusal of the company to pay the city of Providence m gold is based on a determina. tion to make no distinction in favor of Providence as against other bondholders. THE PACIFIC COAST. Death of a California Pioneer—Mecting of the Nevada Legisiature. SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 4, 1871. Dr. Isaac Rowell, a California pioneer, ex-supervi- sor, and a professor in the Pacific Medical College, died of appoplexy this morning. He was 53 years of age, and a native of Maine. The ship Guiding Star, owned by Messrs. Pope & Talbot, of San Francisco, has been condemned at Hong Kong. Her caro, consisting of rice, will be forwarded per stup A. M. Small. Messrs. Tubbs & Co., of this city, have fled peti- tions to have Messrs. Treadwell & Co., also of this be declared insolvents. ‘ne Legislature of Nevada organized yesterday. The House consists of twenty-three democrats, twenty-one republicans and two independents. Robert E. Lowery, democrat, has been chosen Speaker. Governor Bradley has been sworn in. EUROPEAN MARKETS. Loxpon Monry MARKET.—Lonnow, Jan. 4-1:3) P. M.— Contols W2ig for money, and the ‘account. “American securities qmet and United States tive twenty bonds, 2939 ; 1885, $834. Ten forties, 8734. Stocks nd MARKET.—Livesroot, Jan. 4— endenes, but prices are in@sanged. LIVrLPooL PROVISION MARKET—LIVEErOOL, Jan. 4 1:60 P. M.—Beef 19 8, Lonpon PRopvuck MARKRT—LONDON, Jan 4.—Taliow, 45a. d. per cwt. The Markets of January 3. Lonpon, Jan. 4, 1871. (The annexed quotations are corrections of telegraphic re- port biunders toade dy the cable or its Knglish connections yesterday, January 3.) Cottan at Liverpool should have been quoted at $i¢d, middiiug uplands and 84d, for middling Greans. Th Xu . 1d. a 1s. 6d., given in the 1:30 P.M. re- it of 10s. Ed. a 10. 10d., of rt, was incorrect. Tallow at London should oF Dew, Was correct, and tI qroted at 11:30 AcM. at dSa3d. It bas ‘eiuee wit . 6d. a 45, CHEAP COAL IN SMALL QUANTITIES. New York, Dec. 30, 1870. To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD :— Will you please present to the public the opposite of “Victim’s” story, published on the 28th inst., in relatien te the Pennsylvania Coal Company, and een ne Cardinal Antonelli and the King of Italy—Cors ial, if not Charitable. LONDON, Jan. 4, 1871. The telegraph advices from Rome are received eagerly and read with considerabie tnterest, particu. larly so far as the despatches relate to the visit of his Majesty, King Victor Emmanuel, and the tone and attitude of the Papal Power towards Ulin during his brief stay. itis said to-day that his Eminence, the Cardinal Secretary of State, Antonelli, gave audience at once to the special ambassador whe was despatched by the King to the Vatican te annonnce hiiarrival in the Holy City, and also displayed a very consider- able degree of cordiality towards the royal envoy. Cardinal Antonelt, as it 1s remarked, must have been moved to this course of action either Oy tha exercise of a very unbounded charity or a feeling the exact contrary, the calm expectancy of the advent of a day of retribution or revenge. In his circular addressed to the members of the foreign diplomatic body accredited to the Holy See, and serving in Rome, the Cardinal Secretary, under date of the 20th of September last, said:— In presence of this fact (the entrance of Italian troops into Home), Whica has been accomplished be- fore the eyes of ail k wurope, and by which the sacred principles of ali law, and specially of the law ef pa- tions, have been trampled underfoot, nis Holiness, has directed the undersigned Cardinal Secretary of State, to object and protest loudiy, #3 he now ov- Jects and protests in his auguat name, againat the unworthy and sacrilogious spoliation of the dornin- fons of the Hol) whieh has 1 accomplished, declaring at the same time the King aud his goveru- ment responsilie for all the damage whtch may re- gultto thé Holy Sec and to the Pontifical sulgects from tus violent and sicrilegious usurpation. His Holl- fess, moreover, has ordered tt to be Geciared, as the Fiudersigneg now declareg in his august name, that this usu¥pation is depriv@@ of all etfect, is null and Without any value, and that it can never in any WAY prejudice the incontestable and legitimate righ ft dominion and possession, whether of the Holy Father er of fis successors; and, if force preventa the exercise of these rights, his Holiness mtends and wishes to preserve them intact, in order to resume, at his own time, their actual possession, THE REVENUE FRAUDS IN CHICAGO, The Case of Supervisor Bloomficli—Private Letter of Orville Grant to His Brother, the President, Exposing the Nefarioas Propost- tions of Whiskey Men for a ‘romise= General Bloomfield Implicated. CINCINNATI, Ohio, Jan. 4, 1871. The Commercial o1 this morning pubtishes what purports to be a copy of a confidential ietter from Orville Grant to the President. The Washington correspondent “D, G.” say@ the letter is authentic, though it would not be correct to say the President had authorized its publication. The correspondent says that though the President didn’t hana him a copy of the document he will not deny its authenti- clty. The following is a copy ef the letter:— CHIcaGo, tL, Juge 18, 1870, Dear BRoTHeR—The matter that referred to in my note, and which I expected Dr. Lampber to explain to you, Was im reierence to @ proposi- tion made by General Bloomfield to the distil. Jers who had been evading the law and whose distilleries were seized. Mr, Crosby, who {ts General Bloomfield’s confidential agsist- ant, was authorized to make overtures to the distillers, and for a certain sum of money ($20,000) paid into the hands of any man whom the tught select he (Bioomfeld) Would place with the man aji the papers and evidence he had against the distillers, with the positive assuran that the cases would pot be prosecuted. M Crosby was afraid to approach the disullers, ag It might have a bad effect, and proposed to we that if 1 would act as a third party and get the distillers to raise the money I was to retain part ag my fee. I feel ef course suspicious about the honesty of his Intentions, and thougit it might be a ruse to see whether I would loan my- self for such work or not, and I gave tum to under- stand that unless I had positive assurances that Bioomfleld would carry out th good faith all that Was eproposed nothing could be done, He gave me auch assurances, and said that he was author- ized by Bloomfield to make such overtures; vaat I Knew that he and Bloomfeld had discussed the question, and that he (Bloomfield) had instructed Crosby to make such propositions. Ihave lad nothing to do with It, but know and can prove by men under oath that such propositions were made w thet. ‘These are all facts that [ most positively know, and can swear to them, and can prove every word of 16 by men under oath. Talso know there are men here as gaugers and storekeepers Who have assisted the distillers in stealing Whiskey, and received their pay for doing it, and that Bloomfleld Knows it and still retalos them in oftice.If Bloomtield were to take liis solemn oath thas such} i8 not the case, such strong evidence can be brought tg bear that you would be convinced that he had perjoréd nfpiselr by such sesinacees few t #® supervisor {rom Pepusyivania was Pope OO ee Pa cracnoee & fi) disttiery, b b.olierMtl.aw Was 0 auger, I bave forgotten which, supervisor left, the case was I Know no reason for it unless it w sin's brother-in-law. There is not Revenue Department here who has a political inGuence, and the success of th aL wt not Jus- 'y here demands some change. i lor it. Ayres has worked hard for the party, aa (8 ap- pointment as Supervisor would give general satis- faction. If I could seo yon I would tell yon much more than Tlike to commit to paper, even worse than L nave written, and equally true, yet I might not as ea-ly prove it, Ihave written you enough that you may know that you have a dishonest man in olice, Now that you are apprised of the fact yon are ind. vidually responswle for his dishonesty in the future. I have gatned my knowledge of the whole atfair in the strictest confidence, and to teil 16 1 am betraying that confidence, and the only apo- legy | can make for doing a man s0 great an uct of injustice is that my duty to you is stronger than my word or confidence to one who 13 inastru- meutal in detraudinj the government and ruining your reputation, for all the frauds of ou appointees fall upon youn and the patty. T prefer that you do not use itis letter publicly, but remove Bloomfield, and it necessary to e all I have written, J can and will do jt, and a Ereat deal more, I think J know wiicre parties are stealing under the protection of the revenue odicers, which an investigation would prove, and when you geta proper man in charge of the revenue here I will put him at work, bat to make the report now will only injure me and not cause stealing to be stopped. It would injure me because the oficers wonid cover it up, which would show me up as making a false pare Ido hope you can see the necessity ef a change, and that you will try to preserve the integ- rity of your party and your position by re- moving such men. If you wish to retain thieves and scoundrels in office you alone must be responsible for it, I would like to see you person- ally and tell you a little that 1 know about Cuban bond corruption. You would tien know WI one or two prominent re- publicans worked so hard for recognition and why they make such strong attacks on you. I got information from Mr, Yaylor, who tried a bribe for iny Influence, I knew he was preparing to make proposals, for he had letters which he showed me authorizing him to do so. A DOUBLE MURDER 11 ARKANSAS, MEMPHIS, Jan. 4, 1871. On December 23, 1870, at Jacksonport, a youth nomed Stephens was arrested by constable High tower on acharge of being drunk. While on the way to the jail a Mr. Westerman, the stepfather of \ Stephens, interceded for him and offered ball for nis appearance when wanted. The constabie seemed to think that Westerman was acting in a threaten- ing manner, and strock him with a loaded cane. Wesierman linmediately diew @ revolver and shot Hightower through the body. ‘The latter then juchea with Westerman, wrested the pistol frou him and shot him dead, and almost immediately sell dead humself. ALBOSTONAN (MURDERED IN CHIC!GO. Murdered for His Money—The Body Thrown Into the Lake~Nearly Eight 1 bousand Dol- lars Stolen. UBICAGO, Jan. 4, 1871. investigation into the case of William Gambieton, whose dead body was found in Lake basin on * Monday, renders it certain that he was murdered and rob- bed of a large sum of money. A telegram trom Biake Srothers, bankers, New York, suys they forwarded to Ganibieton $7,980 in the shape of a check. He deposited it in the Manufacturers’ Bank and subsequently withdrew tne money, since which the oficers of the bank have not seen him. A further “LYNCH. LAW TN ALABAMA, MEMPHIS, Jan. 4, 1871. At Bluntsville, Ala., on Friday last, Lewis Ketch. um disemboweiled F, Burgess. Ketchum was ar- rested and lodged in jail, but the following night a body of armed men, wearing masks, eatered the town, seized all the prominent citizeas and placed a guard over (hem, then marched to the jail, whict they broke into, aud took Ketchuin a short distance from the town and shot him to death, THE WEATHER 0% MOUNT WASHINGTON, say to the poor folks that they can buy their coal (one ton to a person) at $6 60, whem other dealers are charging $7 60. The com liver all the supply now on hand at the old mining prices, rai exact ‘mi ists’ rates,’? adopt this rule; but one ton to one address, and to be patd for when ordered. Respect Ara cneto, Wisning to de- Sumit OF MOUNT WASHINGTON, Jai. 4, 1871. Seven P. M.—Barometer 23.436, deing a change « 158 since last report. Thermometer 13 acgrees ! low zero. Relative humidity, 47-100, Wind, 80! west Velocity of wind, 68 miles oer hour.