The New York Herald Newspaper, December 30, 1873, Page 3

WASHINGTON. General Sherman on Reform in Army | Expenditure and Improvement in Coast Defence. Employment of Public Servants and Money for the Private ‘Pur- poses of Fat Officials, ees fe ee REPUBLICAN ECONOMY TO BE TESTED. WASHINGTON, Déc. 29, 1873, Employment of Public Servants and Money for Private Interests—The Coming Investigation. Manifest improprieties in the manner of provid- ing help at the White House having called for in- vestigation, which ts to receive the serious atten- tion of Congress by a resolution calling for infor- mation from the Secretary of War, it will first be Inquired by what authority enlisted men, whose mames are on the rolls of the army, are serving there in menial capacities, and the public will ‘want to know who is responsible for this violation of official integrity, not to say of the law. It may be asked, with some pertinence, whether men have been employed there in various duties from that of messenger to cook, and from that of house ser- vant to barber, who draw their pay, rank- ing as sergeants and as high as captain. Rumor has it that when these former Were placed at the Executive mansion they were ranked as privates; but the pay not being sufficient, in,their own estimation and that of their employer, they were promoted by the Secretary of War, onthe recommendation of their employer, to be sergeants, 80 as thus to be enabled to draw increased pay for their important and useful call- ings. And in the case of the cook, as every one knows, no second class hotel here can secure the Services of a good French or German cook ata rate of wages less than from $100 to $175 per month. Of course the pay of sergeant would never meet the requirements of the august fanctionary who Performs the delicate task of catering to the re- fined and sensitive epicurean palates of the “famille royale,’’ and so it is said that this individual must be appointed to the rank of captain, with pay Proper, s0as to bo epabled to manage his ‘luers, v0us and patisserie,” The Secretary of War will have ample opportu- nity to explain these unhandsome travesties of the ‘war god, which can only be considerately regarded by a very liberal adaptation of the memorable say- ing, “Peace hath her victories not less renowned than war.” A companion evil to this existed for some time in the army during the early part of the War, whereby officers who were allowed rations and pay for servants whom they never employed, but in leu thereof had soldiers detailed from a company on the rolls of which they were paid, and hence these gallant officers pocketed the fundsand Uncle Sam paid for services which he did not re- ceive. But the time came when some honest, fair- minded men saw this glaring and increasing fraud, whereupon due representations were made, after corresponding investigations, to the War Depart- Ment, and orders were issued that thenceforth tf an officer drew pay for servant and rations he must have such servant in actual em- Ploy for the time stated. Thos the army was purged of this rascality. Kindred with this misap- Plication of the services of those in government employ is the prevailing custom among officials to have the messengers attend at their houses, make ap bedding, black shoes, walt on table and do chores generally for which the government is made to pay. How many more important domestic cuties re thus performed it is impossible to tell. The committee, which are to be appointed, will commence with the War and Treasury Depart- ments after it is through with the White House, and, as they progress, overwhelming evidence may be adduced which will apply to similar dishonest practices in other bureaus. The horses and livery, as well as the vehicles, of many Fepublican patriots will bear alike scrutiny and by the time the Committee has concluded its in- vestigation Congress will find where a large @mount of money is squandered, and how they can practically get down to economical principles ‘without howling and doing, as the miserly and weak cellarer did, ‘saving at the spigot and ‘Wasting at the bung.” Reform in Army Expenditure and the Policy of Coast Defence. General Sherman yesterday, in conversation re- Specting the expense of the army, remarked that- the estimates and appropriations placed that branch of the service in a very false light before the people. Under the head of military establish Ment the estimates for the coming year were Tamed at nearly $35,000,000, and the impression throughout the country is that it costs that amount for the army proper. This had often elicited the observation in Congress and the country that $35,000,000 was an enormous sum for the support of an army of but 30,000 men, which ‘would be ever $1,000 a man. The General said ‘that the truth of the matter was that the cost of the army was $12,500,000 for pay, mileage and ordinary expenses of the General and staf, Signal corps, Corps of Engineers, Ordnance Department, ten regiments of cavalry, five of artillery, twenty- five of injantry and Indian scouts, one band and miscellaneous. The subsistence amounts to about $3,000,000 for regular supplies, $5,000,000 for inci- dentals, $1,300,000 for horses tor cavairy and artil- lery, $500,000 for army transportation, $4,500,000 for barracks and quarters, $2,000,000 for clothing and equipage, $1,700,000 for the Medical Depart- ment, $225,000 and $200,000 for preservation of clothing and contingencies, making for the above items about $18,000,000. In addition to this $5,000,000 are added for the Military Academy, con- struction of hospitals, national cemeteries, medical museum, Engineer and Ordnance Departments and armament of fortifications. The General re- marked, as seen above, that the army transporta- tion costs $4,000,000 annually, and a large share of this went for the movement of troops from one point to another, necessitated by the inadequacy of the military force. He was in favor of praning out of the army all non-combatant members and increas- ing its effective force to 30,000 men, the increase to be entirely composed of the least expensive part of the army—the private soldiers in the infantry ‘and artillery—the latter to be intrusted with the safety and keeping of military property on the At- antic, Pacific and Gulf and Lake coasts, He opposea the addition of any more officers, as those now in tne service would answer every purpose; and farthermore he added that the cost of a company of75 men in the aggregate would be but little more than for 50, The reduced force of the army kept the troops constantly in motion, and trans- Portation, for instance to the Pacific coast, he said, cost more than a year's pay of a soldier. Besides, he added, the Government has over $600,000,000 in- vested in fortifications of various kinds, and these are in & majority of instances neglected and cost large sums for repairs, when a small detachment of artillery would keep them in order. The General said that enor- mous sums were expended every year on fortifications, amounting to nearly $44,000,000. He mever could see the necessity of permanent works ©f defence at unimportant places. He thinks that arbors of large cities only should be defenaed by Qn claborate system of defence and the smatiest Places in time of war could be secured by means Of hastily erected earth works and torpedoes, There were many fortifications on the coasts which ‘would never be needed in time of war, as the en- trances to the harbors would not admit of the pas- ®age of vessels of the size that would be likely to appear on the coast. In this way he thonght millions had been expended without any prospect ofever turning the money to account. The late war had shown tho value of volunteers and improvised ‘works of detence, He thought Congress should lay down © policy on the subject of coast de- fences, and in his opinion $1,000,000 judi- elously expended would be of more practi- eal benefit than js mow realized out of NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, DEC whe entire $4,000,000, He did not believe Im ne- glecting any part of the coast, but the late war ‘demonstrated to his satisfaction that earthworks, ‘Well manned, were ugly customers for a fleet to encounter. He cited as illustrations the defences of Charleston and Fort Fisher. The same thing could be done along our entire coast, and with the aid of the lines of railroads running to the coast any point could be promptly manned and reinforced, The General thought such places as Boston, New York, Philadeiphia, the Chesapeake Bay, New Orleans and San Francisco should have more extensive works, as the property to be de- fended was on too large a scale to be covered by the means which would answer at smal! seaports. The General also suggests the division of the sub- jects of appropriation under the general head of “Military Establishment,” so that the people may know exactly what the money is for. “Under the pay of the army,” he remarked, “at least $3,000,000 are expended for men and employés who are not part of the active force, Among these are the West Point Ordnance and Engineer Detachments, generat service men—in reality clerks, clerks of staff departments, &c.”” The Administration Fishing for Friends. It is understood that the Secretary of the Treas- ury, in view of the demand for economy, has de- termined to recommend the suspension of ail work on public buildings, which will: throw out of em- ployment several thousands of men. This will create a reduction of the expenses of the govern- ment, and is regarded in part as @ practical re- sponse by him to the Congressional desire for the reduction of his estimates, Evidences are every- where shown on the part of the Middle, Western and Southern States to resist the policy of the East on the coming disposition of the taxation ques- tion, The differences cannot be reconciliated, and these three powerful quarters will make @ stub- born and, it is contended, a succeasfai fight on the issue, leaving Boston’s tea harbor pugnacity in the shade, The whole question seeme to be in the hands of New York merchants, whose large capital in- vested throughout the country is deemed para- mount to policy and government expediency. A Movement is on foot by the friends of President ) Grant to select, in various strongholda of political power, influential and wortny democrats who gov- ern public opinion in their neighborhoods, to in- gratiate them with a goodwill toward his admints- tration. His personal friends, favorite officials and emissaries are earnestly at work in this direction, and it is privately understood that this policy is best calculated to take up a strong, disaffected ele- ment, whose regular party influence has not been felt heretofore, but which has been coqueting for @ recognition by the administration, while they have been at vartance with their former associates im the demo- cratic party proper. This is agreed upon to counteract the defection of orthodox republtcan- ism; and the President, in his cosmopolitan, easy- going way, has not been unmindftul of it in nis con- sultations with the political managers, indepen- dent of*whom, however, the originality of ;the idea and the credit of mantpulation belong to himself alone. But evidences are here that he has found enthusiastic response to it in every quarter, from which it is argued that his following will be stronger than heretofore, and the compliments of Beck, of Kentucky, on our Virginius complications are pointedly referred to by those who study the science of politics according to the versions of Seward, Thurlow Weed and Jerry Black. The Appointment of Brigadier Generals. Army circles continue to discuss the position of the Senate Military Committee In the matter of Gen- eral Crook’s nomination to the vacancy in the list of brigadiers. General Sherman states that to in- clude the brigadiers at the head of staff depart- ‘ments, under the provisions of the igw which pro- hibits any appointments till the number of that rank is reduced to six, would leave the line of the army entirely without that grade of officers. The highest grade of-the Adjutant General’s office, Quartermaster’s, Commissary, Surgeon General’s, Ordnance ana Engineer departments is of tne rank of brigadier general, the same as the head of a regiment is @ colonel; but they are not, strictly speaking, general officers—a title which appties only to the tine. Besides, he gays, the promotions in each are distinct. If there were a vacancy at the head of the Adjutant Gen- eral’s office one of the assistants would be pro- moted, and so with the other branches of the staff. In the line the same principle, he thinks, should be applied. The advancement of Crooke to the vacancy, from the rank of colonel, was in the regular line of promotion. It would be impossille to get along without brigadiers, but the General remarked If the committee’s interpretation of the law be carried out all the brigadiers of the line, nd of the staff also, would have to be vacated be- fore there could be an appointment. The Unprinted Report on Building and Labor Contracts. The revort of the Committee on Expenditures on Public Buildings, of which Mr. Duel is chairman, and which has been investigating the manner of making contracts for buildings and the employ- ment of mechanics and laborers by certain govern- ment oficigis of the Treasury Department, has noc yet been printed. Aresolution to do this will be offered by @ member of the committee, and the evidence, it is said, will be damaging to the Super- vising Architect especially. The manuscript, care- fully rolled up, has been seen, and, in pencil mark, is written on the back, “Not to be printed.” Sev- eral large contractors and sub-offictals are inter- ested in Its suppression, and the President 1s said Not to look favorably upon the course followed, causing him, as it does, considerable annoyance and tue making of additional widespread ill- feeling towards his administration. Absence of Cabinet Officers, Nearly all the Cabinet members are now absent, but, with the exception of Secretary velano, will return before New Year's Day. Improvement of the Postal Department Building. The Postmaster General will submit to Congress Plans and estimates for the improvement of the Post Office Department building, prepared by Su- pervising Architect Mullett, together with tue rec- ommendation that an appropriation of $1,500,000 be made to enlarge the building. 1t is said that unless some addition be made it will be necessary, torent buildings in its neighborhood to accom modate all the clerks required for the transaction of business, The Republican Spirit of “Economy” To Be Tested. While the high-pressure-principle economists are pretending, with virtuous spasms, to be seeking the reduction of the national expenses, it has been quietly resolved by the democratic members, on the reassembling of Congress, to test their sincerity by offering & resolution to dispense with the present extravagant system of advertising for proposals and the sales of government property, which, as now conducted, is deemed to be a superfuity anda vast expense, producing no proportionate good re- sults, Itis contended that it is a custom which has been devised to furnish pap for needy journals, who are thereby subsidized to support the admin- stration and thus stifle the independence and just censorship of the press, Besides it is assetted that, so far as being a means of making puplic the wants of the government by publicity, the promul- gation of the requirements of the government are not made known beyond the circumscribed limits Where these patriotic journals are published, It is well known by bidders what depart- ments have charge of these notifications, and they can be addressed for printed copies ana blanks, which must finally be provided. To obtain these the usual mail factlities can be resorted to, and no necessity can exist, in an honest and just conduct of affairs by the reviewing officials, of having @ flock of conniving and wire-pulling con- tractors, like 80 many vultures with their unclean talons, pounce down upon this sanctified city and g@athor in the lobbies of the capital to procure the aid of this or that member of Congress or Senator to infuence the decision on the bids, and thereby afford opportunity to these Christian Commission statesmen to make dishonest profits, Disaffection in Party Ranks Produced by the Operation of the Civil Service Law. The pressure which has been brought to bear Upon mempers and the heads of departments for appointments by those who say they have claims on the party in power, and are confronted py we | ghastly unfriendtiness of the Civil Service law, has elicited the cogent argument that those who were in the departments prior to its operation must be subjected to its provisions, as a matter of equity, or else they will no longer give allegiance to the republican party, but will seek to ally themselves with other political influences from which they may expect reward, They also, with other reasons, insist apon the repeal of the law, and many mem- bers, a8 well as officials, in desperation are advo- cating the repeal of a measure which, they say, has brought ruin upon the party and discriminated against its best friends, It is universally conce -d to be a failure. Lilness of General Sweet. General Sweet, Deputy Commissioner of Internal Revenue, is dangerously ill of pneumonia, and but little nopes are entertained of his recovery. Internal Revenue Appointments, The following internal revenue appointments were made to-day :— John ©. Bickford to be for the Seconda dis- trict of New Hampshire; John W. Hood, to be | for the First district of Llinois; James E. irton, to be geen for the Sixth district of In- diana; John M. Yamdt. to bé storekeeper for the Eighth district of Indiana; James Bradley, Charles C. Walker and Theodore “ays, store- Keepers for the Pifth district of reticky. The Revenue ) Service. James P. Kellehery, ¢ YZshington, D. ©., has been appointed Second Assistant Engineer in the Revenue Marine Service. The Exportation of Cotton Drills to China. Reports received at the Treasury Department from the Rev. Dr. Newman, special agent, dated Shanghae, November 7, state that he expects to be in Calcutta on the 1st of January. At Pekin he in- vestigated the cause of the decrease in American exportation of cotton drills to China, and ascer- tained that this trade has been superseded by the | British drills, the manufacturers of which imitate the American trade mark and undersell the Amer- ican market. The Chinese prefer American drills, but the fraudulent trade marks on the Britisn goods have deceived the purchasers. Our expor- tation has fallen off from 250,000 to 4,000 pieces per annum, while the British exportations have increaged trom 14,000 to about 250,000 pieces. The Coolie Trade at Macao Prohibited. The Department of State has received a tele- gram from the Vonsulat Hong Kong announcing that the King of Portugal had, by proclamation, Prohibited the coolle trade at Macao and had closed the barracoons, of Foreign Recognition Officials. The President has recognized Celestin Auguste Ravin d’Elpeux as Vice Consul of France at Phila- deiphia and Edmond Carrey as Vice Consular Agent of France at Ubicago. Assistant Attorney General Hill Not Be- fore the Judiciary Committee. It was incorrectly stated in last night’s de- Spatches that Assistant Attorney General Hill was before the Committee on the Judiciary in connec- tion witn the nomination of George A. Williams to be Chief Justice. Mr. Hill had no communication whatever with the committee on that subject. Punishment of Unruly Redskins. Colonel John E, Smith, of the Fourteenth in fautry, having reported to General Ord that several parties of Indians, on December 20, were killing stock in the vicinity of Scott’s Bluff and Horse Creek, near Fort Laramie, Captain Egan, with 75 men and @ company of cavalry, were sent out to scout the country and punish them. Secretary Richardson’s Expected Return. Secretary Richardson will return here from Bos ton to-night. Payment of Interest by the Treasurer, The Treasurer to-day commenced the payment of interest due on the Ist prox., without rebate, removal of Political Disabilities. The President has approved the bill removing the political disabilities of E. J. Harvie, Thomas 8. Bo- cock and Daniel Trigg, of Virginia, and John H. Reagan, of Texas. “THE LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN. Consular Mr. Du Chaillu’s Lecture at Association Hall Last Night. It was at Association Hall, the occasion being the first appearance of Mr, Paul B. Du Chaillu in New York since his arrival from Norway, and the subject, “The Land of the Midnight Sun.” The audience was a large and fashionable one, and the lecture short and interesting. In opening Mr. Du Chaillu said:—There is a beautiful country far away from our shores, far away towards the icy north, It is a glorious land, with snowy, bold and magnificant mountains; deep, narrow and delightful valleys; bleak plateaux and slopes; wild ravines; clear and picturesque lakes; immense forests of white birch and fir trees; gigantic and superb glaciers, unrivalled in size by any in Europe. Itis of this country that I have come to tell you. The rivers of this great country, in their hurried flights from the heights above to the valleys below, tumble down asif from heaven in gigantic waterfalls and cascades 80 beautiful, so lovely, so white and chaste, so matchless in their beauty, that the beholder neyer tires of 100! upon them. I have told you of the lead features of the coun- try, topographically considered; let me now say a few words about the people, their mode of living, their code of morality, Ihave been an extensive traveller, but never my experience have I met with such an honest and simple class of ople as the inhabitants of rarer: weden and land. Their faith in human nature somethin; incredible, and their honesty exceeds all bounds. Oiten have {left my money behind me in a farmhouse, and as often have I been followed on the road by my late host with the treasure I forgot in his domicile. ‘They scorn to take any reward for doin, they consider their duty, and as often as I have offered them rewards they have been rejected. They are a very religious neople and a very democratic people. Of their religions simplicity volumes could be written. They are for the most part, in fact all, Protestants or Lutherans. They oy their dead in graveyards around the churches, and if @ man dies 200 miles y his body must be brought to the graveyard and interred. A stranger can tell the condition of almost any lady he meets, Those that are en- gaged to be married have one plain id Ting, those who are married wear two an those who have a _ family wear three. When a man’s wife dies in this northern clime the husband and his friends have a three days’ jollification. About their demo- cratic ideas I cannot give you a better notion than by mentioning the fact that I sought an interview with the King and was accorded the same. Before I was five minutes in the royal presence I was asked to smoke a cigar, and at separating was requested to call aj which J did. When I re- turned [had to look for the mysel, there being no guards or servants around the house. found him putting on his coatin a room up stairs, having just put the finishing touches on one of his pictures. A few words about the midnight sun. I witnessed this grand phenomenon while standing on Cape North, the most northerly extremity of Eu- rope. The sun, instead of set! as it does here, and running a course from to west, Keeps going around ina circle, the lower periphery of Which is just on the horizon. When it makes the lower curves it is partially obscured, but it rises again and describes circles in the air for nearly two and 4 half months, It then goes away, but total darkness does not ensue, for moon, stars and the northern lights iilumine tne land. TEMPLAR LODGE OF PERFECTION, Last evening, at the Church of the Disciples, Madison avenue, corner of Forty-fifth street, there was @ celebration of the Festival of St. John by the Templar Lodge of Perfection. The church was filled by a large audience, consisting of Masons and their lady friends, The following were the acting officers on the occasion:—Grand Mas- ter, © TT. MeClenachan, thirty-third de- gree; Deputy Grand Master, W. V. Alex- ander, tnirty-thira degree; Senior Grand Warden, W. M. Fleming, tl Junior Grand Warden, “Samu second degree; Grand Orator, ‘ge A. ney, thirty-third degree; Grand Master of Cere- monies, Charlies ome, thirty-third degree; Grand ‘Captain of Guard, Jerome Buck, thirty- second degree; Grand Chaplains, Rev. Brothers Gare H. Hall, thirty-second degree, and Charles . Homer, tuirty second degree; Orator of the Evening, v. Brother George H, Hepworth, eighteenth degree. The Rev. Brother Stephen H, Tyng, Jr., who was announced, was unable to be present. The open- ing ceremonies were of a semi-religious character, and consisted principally of sh tions defin- ing what Masonry is, Interspersed ich choral and organ music, Aiter this the singing of aun ballads, airs and solos, the more rey aiogh Oy Mrs MD. simmons, aud so10, . a ty ig aaere by Mr. Jales G. Lumbard. she Bev. H. Bepwor' ‘@ short aaciont end honorable character ot ‘to @ close by the rendering of ‘Bousica) eolections, THE VEXING VIRGINIUS. 2 of a Requisition from Spain for the Restitution of the Vessel—What ‘Will Be Done With Her if Condemned. Wasainoton, Dec, 29, 1873. It has been ascertained from an official source that on the arrival of the Virginius at New York she will be seized by the Collector of the Port and Mbetled by the District Attorney, in accordance with instructions already forwarded to those ofMicers. If, on judicial investigation, it be shown that the vessel had a register obtained by fraud she will be sold and the proceeds o/ the sale paid to the United States. Spain can make no claim to the vessel; but, if she should, it 1s positively cer- tain thet our government would not entertain such claim. The report that the Spanish govern- ment required of the United States the restitu- tion of the Virginius and the payment of an indemnity is not believed in oMcial quarters, no authentic information having been received here to that effect, and, pesides, such requisition would be contrary to the terms of the protocol be- tween the two nations, The reference of the Span- ish affidavits and other papers by the President to the Attorney General was known only to those present and to Secretary Fish, the matter having been Kept perfectly secret until the opinion of the Attorney General was delivered to the 1ast-named gentleman on the day of its date, the 17th inst. The first intimation of such an opinion was fur- nished to the press four days later, and the fall text obtained the mext day from the Department of Justice. Protest of the Owner of the Vessel—Mr. Patterson’s Letter to Secretary Fish. The following 18 a copy of the protest of the owner Of the Virginius, Mr. John F. Patterson, in the form of a letter to Secretary Fish, a duplicate of which has also been forwarded to Attorney Gen- eral Williams :— No, 177 Wesr STREET, NEW mone Dees 26, 1873, Hon, HAMILTON FisH, Secretary of State :— Srr—I am the registered owner of the steamer Virginius, recently seized by the Spanisn gunboat Tornado, which steamer, the newspapers inform me, has been since delivered toa United States naval officer, and is soon to arrive at this port. Immediately after | knew of the seizure of the Virginius and the shooting of persons found on board of her I consulted my counsel, informing them of all the facts relating to my ownersnip of that vessel, and was by them advised that our gov- ernment would certainly use all proper means to recover that vessel and bring her back to the United States—not because her voyage was innocent or I her owner, but because, im the situation in which she was found, our government would maintain that no other Nation had the right to determine these questions of nationality inst the vessel or her owner, and therefore that the best course tor me would be to do nothing in the matter for the time being, nor probably until the vessel was restored to the United States, uniess, meanwhile, my government should in some way, by its proper officers, call upon me for information. Foliowing the advice of my counsel, I have re- mained quietly in New York attending regularly to my business, weil knowing that the government could easily communicate with me if it desired, until now, when [learn from_ the newspapers that the Attorney-General of the United States on the 17th inst. condemned me and the Virginius—him- sell deciding both the law and the facts—in a pro- ceeding to which I was not summoned, and against & ver which was yet in the Gulf 01 Mexico. The only copy of this opinion of the Attorne; General that I have seen has been in the New Yor! newspapers of the 23d inst., and from such & copy T extract in this letter. From this opinion I learn that on the 11th of De- cember you wrote to the Attorney General, sub- mitting *a large number of documents and depo- sitions;” after an examination of which he written you a letter, which concludes as follows :— “f{ decide that the steamer Virginius at the time of her capture was without right and improperly car- Tying the American flag.”” The foundation of fact upon which this opinion, or, as I should rhaps 6 (using the words of the Attorney General), this decision seems to Test is stated by the Attorney General to be because the Virginius “had not been registered according to law;” and this tact is said to have been proved by the testimony of certain wit- nesses named the decision. The proceedin; in which these witnesses were examined is no explained ; but the Attorney General invests their depositions with all the force which belongs to vidence, taken judicially, in the presence of the arty to be affected thereby, who has had an op- ortunity to contradict the same ; and he so invests em when he says :— “Nothing Sppeass to weaken the force of this testimony, though the witnesses were generally subjected to cross-eXamination ;” and again, when he decided as ge Ed “{ cannot do ciuérwise than to hold upon this evidence that Patterson’s oath was false, and that the registry obtained in his name was a Iraud upon the navigation laws o! the United States.” The plain import of these words is, that a legal investigation been made against me, that Ihave cross-examined the witnesses, and that I have been unable to offer anything to ‘weaken the force of their testimony.” If anything were needed to strengthen this plain inierence from the language used the public has found the same in the improbability that the Attorne: General would assume to decide a question, ak fecting so seriously, not only the character and rights of an American citizen, but also the standing of the United States upon a question so important as that which was involved in his decision, without, at least, giving to the person most interested therein an opportunity to be eard, How these proofs were taken I can only infer from the decision itseli, which quotes from the protocol “that if oa should prove to the satis- faction of the United States that the Virginius was not entitled to carry the flag,” then a certain salute should be dispensed with, and I, therefore, suppose that Spain furnished the proot, which, in the absence o1 any contradiction, has made ,a case “to the satisfaction” of the Attorney Genera). But whether this testimony was taken by Spain alone, or by the United States alone, or by the two governments acting together, I know not, jor I was Not present and have not seen it. But 1 do know and do assure you that any testimony that! was not the true and sole owner of the Virginius at the time when she was Byers is utterly false; for I did not swear false! ut truly, when I took the oath necessary to ol her registry as an Ameri- can vessel, and of thisI remam certain, notwith- standing the Attorney General has decided that he “cannot do otherwise than to hold’? to the contrary. It is not part of my present purpose now to criti- cise the testimony which Spain furnished to tne Attorney General. Spain had the right to make an ex parte case ist me and the Vir- (el and my government could not but receive he same, and thereupon determine whether or not it would proceed against me and her in the courts by due process of law; and I suppose such Was your object in referring this ex parte case to the Attorney General for an opinion. Of all this I could not have complained; but, on the state of facts till now Celett I did not suppose it pos- sible that Spain couid, by a mere ex parte case. furnish proof ‘to the satisfaction of the United States” sufficient to odtain a judgment which, though it may not be final against me, would Beem to be final and conclusive upon the United States in its controversy with Spain. The government had for mouths by tts cruisers protected the Virginius against Le war ships, Whose officers had protested that her registry papers were 1; ana within the last few weeks our country has been on the verge of a war with Spain, which war would have been justifiable only on tne ground that the Virginius was American until the contrary was legally fe ba in a court of the United jee had been advised that no decision could inst me and her, except after an open trial in court, in which accusers and accused would be alike repre- ae! It seems, however, that I have been wrongly ad- The Solicitor of the Treasury had given me a bill ofsate of the Virginius, in which he had agreed with me and my a: “to warrant and defend the said steamer against ali and every person and persons whomsoever.” I had thereupon sworn she was mine; and the government had given her an American register, Which has ever since pro- tected her; when now, of a sudden, just as she is being escorted to the Unitea States, not perhaps as he’ innocent, but yet as a kind of trophy of successful negotiations to maintain the righta of tne United States, this bill of sale, this oath, this register, this protection, and, as it seems to me, even this rejoicing over rights maintained, are each and all held to be & fraud both upon the United States ana Spain d this decision is made, to put it as strongly as possibie, simply because, perhaps, @ dozen persons have sworn that I did not pay the United States forthe Virginius with by ays money, ‘he property of any tan dlord might, by a similar Byerk be proved to beiong to his tenant, if only alf of the persons employed by that tenant could be made to swear that the landlord did not own the same; nor would anything “appear to weaken the force of this testimony,” if the landlord were Hot called into court, And this might, perhaps, even be “corroborated” if it could not be “found’’ that either the landlord or the tenant had ‘‘in- sured” the building “alter,” as in tne case of the Me “pains had been taken to ascertain the If, in Spain, an inquiry had been instituted which was to affect my rights of person or pro; erty I should have been protected by the seventh article of the treaty of 1795 between that count: and the United States, whtch declares that Unite States citizens, in all trials in a2 in which their their rights are concerned, ‘shall have free access to be present at the proceedings in such causes and at the taking oi all examinations and evidence which may be exhibited.”’ But here in my own country, ee farnishing @ parte evidence against me, I have been con- demned, = I could not have been lawfully con- in Spain, Lea the case a8 the decision of the Attorn General eavea it it aeems to me that Spain, alter 3 © ER 30, 1873.—TRIPLE ‘ SHEET. having violated her treaty \abligations by execut- mag Aleriona citizens in Cabé without due process of law, has succeeded, even wittteut a hearing, in condemning both me and the Virgtius, here in the United States, where United states citizens shonid at least have as much piotection against Spain as Spain has agreed to give them when they may be on trialin Spain, Even Captain Fry and is unfortunate companions have had one advau- tage over me; ior they were present before the extemporized judge wiio condemned them upon evidence which, even ii false, they yet heard. Of course 1 am aware that, however controlling this decision may be in condemnation of my gov- ernment, the rights of individual citizens are so protected by the constitution that [ cannot thereby be deprived of property or liberty; but yet, you well know that such @ condemnation from what the statute has denominated the Department of Jus- tice is calculated to injure me more than a verdict of a jury, and, as 1 have no appeal therefrom to a Supreme Court, I have felt it my duty, declaring my innocence, to make this protest against a de- cision which must alike have astonished and grati- fled that foreign government which, by its agents, as procured its depositions against me, In conclusion, I ask that you will please furnish me with a copy of the “documents and deposi- tions”? upon which I and the Virgintus have been tried and condemned by the Attorney General, and that you will also please notify me of the time and place when and where any other witnesses are in this matter to be examined and “subjected to cross-examination,’? Isenda Rg of this letter by the same mail to the Attorney General, and shall think it due to myself to make the same public on the day of its Probahlo receipt by you and him. Yours, respect- lly, JOHN F. PATIBRSON, ATTORNEY GENERAL WILLIAMS’ DECISION. Dilemma of an American Shipowner Who Has an English Partner. New York, Dec, 26, 1873. To rag Epiror or THE HERALD:— My partner, who is @ British subject, residing abroad, has a joint interest with me in a large number of vessels sailing under the American fag. Being an American citizen I have had all these vessels registered in my own name, as my partner could not take the nec ry oaths, &c. During the past war much ul-feeling existed be- tween myself and partner because I persisted In retaining the American register, involving thereby @ serious loss to us in war premiums, low freights, &c, Now, according to the Attorney General’s recent dectsion, Iam liable to have our vessels confiscated and to be tried for perjury. Please explain what course is open to me. Am I to be compelled to take out an English reg- ister, after all my sacrifices ? If you read Mr. Willfams’ decision on the Vir- ginids you will note I am exactly in the same posi- tion as her owner. Yours, indignantly, R. A. D. P, S.—I do not give my full name, as some of the blackmailers would only be too happy now to take advantage of me, THE STEAMSHIP GENERAL SHERMAN. Another Case of Piratical Difficulty for the Washington Lawyers. Panama, Dec. 21, 1873. ‘The steamship General Sherman is to start for the United States so soon as the American war ship Worcester arrives at Aspinwall. The Sherman will, it is thought, undoubtedly be condemned as a pirate. ’ Another account, of the same date, from Panama says:— The steamer General Sherman is still at Aspin- wall, with a prize crew on board, Sy AIUES the ar- rival of the Rear Admiral commanding the North Atlantic squadron in the United States-steamer Worcester, when she will be sent home for trial. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. HERALD correspondence from Panama, under date of December 21, reports as” follows:—The United States steamer Benicia is still in port. Captain Cleary, her iormer commander, goes home by to-day’s steamer, having been relieved by Cap- tain W. E. Hopkins, from the Mare Island Navy who arrived here by the last steamer from San Francisco, ‘The United States steamer Omaha, from Callao, also arrived on the 20th inst. she le!t Callao on the 7th inst. The following is alist of her ofll- cers:— Captain—Jonn ©. Febiger. Lieutenant Commanders—Smith W. Nichols, Allan D. Brown, Charles H. Davis. Lieutenants—James R. P. Ragsdale, Seth W. Ackley, Jerome E. Morse. Master—Thomas N. Lee. Midshipmen—Joel A. Barber, Albert T. Freeman, Jesse M. Roper, Frank 8. Hotchkin, Sui i—John ©, Spear. ‘Asstatant Surgeon—Howard Smith. Paymaster—Worth Goldsboro. Engineers—First Assistant, Ralph Aston; Second Assistant, James H. Perry. Naval Report from Washington. WASHINGTON, Dec. 29, 187% Commander E. 0. Mathews is ordered to com- mand the Iroquois; Passed Assistant Surgeon Wil- liam J. Simon to the Norfolk Navy Yard; Captain George H. Cooper has been detached from com- mand of the Terror and ordered to the Norfolk Navy Yard as executive officer ; Commander Henry A. Adams from command of the Iroquots and or- dered to return to the United States; Lieutenant Commander J. F. McGlensey from the Terror and ordered to the Philadelphia Navy Yard; Lieutenant E.T. Strong from the Terror and ordered to the Boston Navy Yard; Master Perry Garst from the Terror and ordered to the re- ceiving ship Potomac; Passed Assistant Sur- geon A. F. Price trom the Terror and placed on waiting orders; Passed Assistant Paymaster J. F. Tarbell from the Terror and ordered to settle his accounts; Chief Engineer E. Laws, from the Terror and ordered to ee in charge of stores at the Norfolk Navy Yard; First Assistant En- gineer E. T. Phillippi trom the Terror and ordered to League Island, Pa. Phe Powhattan. FORTRESS MONROE, Va., Dec. 29, 1873. The United States steamship Powhatan has passed up to tne Norfolk Navy Yard, NEW YORK STATE. Appointments by Governor Dix. ALBANY, Dec, 29, 1873, Governor Dix has made the foliowing appoint- ments :— Alexander S. Johnson, of Utica, to be Judge of the Court of Appeals, in piace of Rufus W. Peck- ham, deceased. Theodore W. Dwight, of New York, to be Com- missioner of Appeals, in place of Alexander 8S, Johnson, appointed Judge of tne Court of ier , Edwin Countryman, of Cooperstown, to Jus- tice of the Supreme Court of the Sixth Judicial district, in place of John M. Parker, deceased, Appointments of the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State elect has determined upon the following list of office appointments, to take effect upon his accession to office on January 1, to wit:— DEPUTY. SECRETARY OF STATE. Hon, George Franklin, Ovid. CLERKS. Edwip N. Hyde, Poughkeepsie, William H. Terrell, Albany. Henry 8. Miller, Utica. Hiram A. Beebe, Owego. Joseph S, Michael, New York city. John J. Coleman, Oswego city. Paul F. Tucker, New York city. F. G. Jewett, Skaneateles, C. Willers, Seneca Falls. MESSENGER, Patrick Reilly, Albany. THE NEWARK STREET MURDER. a Coroner’s Inquest Yesterday—No Clew to the Criminal. The extraordinary murder of Jacob Nate in Newark on Christmas Eve, by a trio of highway- men, for a few cents, is still a cause of alarm and excitement in Newark. Yesterday an inquest was held by Coroner Osborne. A number of witnesses were examined, but no material facts elicited which might furnish a clew to the assailants, It was shown that Nate had probably not more than 20 cents on his person, and possibly not that. Aiter conflicting evidence by the medical experta tho jury returned a verdict that deceased came to his death by violence at the hands of some person or persons to the Jury unknown. No ar- rests have yet been made. ie murder, perpe- trated as it Was on an evening like Christmas Eve, when throngs of people were abroad, in a most daring burglaries recently Fecorded, has naturally excited general alarm among law-abiding citizens, who argue that such crimes would not be possible if the police force were thing like what it ought to be in strength and efficiency, THE SEVERBST DENUNCIATIONS are heaped by the peopie on the heads of the 80+ called ‘guardians of the peace,” and a general demand 1s beginning to be made for a (eaten | Treorganization when the new Common Council is sworn in. in this instance, as tn many others, the people are lavish in blame where it is least deserved. The real culpability for the scandalous ineffictency and worthiessness of the force does not rest on the head or body of the force, but on the Common Council Police Committee, which has turned the organization almost entirely into an bn fg the very lowest and most worthless loungers of ward 8! nd have for earn stood, let the eset: ue tive ‘omesrs of the foree be ever. #0 able. and eMctent, they are ta make good material 3 JORDAN, MARSH & CO, The Evidence Against the Great Bose ton Importing House. THEIR CONFIDENTIAL CLERK A SPY rs How They Were Able to Undersell Honest New York Importers, Ses eae 2 SPECIFICATIONS OF THEIR FRAUDS Boston, Dec, 29, 1873. The gigantic revenue frauds, alleged to hav@ been committed by Joraan, Marsh & Co., still fort the chief topic of conversation in Boston, Th shock of indignation which was at first arouse in the community by the sudden seizure of th books and papers of the firm has somewha' abated, and there is a growing belief that thes prominent importers and jobbers have not bee: so badly persecuted after all, Tr IS. A BITTER PILL for their friends to swallow, particularly so on ace count of their proverbial liberality and publi enterprise in everything that has ever pertaine to the interest and glory of Boston. Their onl; known association with frauds of any kind, pr vious to these now charged, was their prominent connection with the Peace Jubilee humbug: Otherwise they have always been conspicuous), identified with Christians and Christianity of sh most sanctimonious quality, and as traders the; have for years been reckoned as the most exten-<! sive east of New York. They went through th panic without even trembling, but their downfall at that time would have been far preferable to tha impending fate which now seems to threaten themad TUR CASE FOR THE GOVERNMENT. The Treasury officials, wo were instrumental! and participated in the seizure, hawe become more! communicative during the progress of the exami-, nation of the books, and their representatio: that they have an abundance of evidence to provet that the firm has been wilfully guilty of a long series of swindles of enormous magnitude are be« ginning to be believed. This belief is strengthened b; a timely statement from the Treasury Department at Washington thatthe Supervisors have been a@ work for a couple of years obtaining the proof,; and that the Supervising Special Agent himse! spent some time in this city recently investigating) the case, and his conclusion that the evidence im favor of the government is overwhelming and thag the firm can be muicted for almost any amoung they may be sued for. THE STORY OF THE INFORMATION which led to the seizure, and the means em= ployed to bring it about, form an interestin, chapter in the history of the secret service of that Treasury Department. A couple of years ago three of the leading importing houses in New Yor! discovered that Jordan, Marsh & Co. were sellin, @ certain class of goods at 18 per cent lower tha! ‘they could possibly be purchased in Europe an imported into this country. This fact was reporte: to the proper officers, and a close watch was Ke] up on their operations at this port. At about tha time the firm was Canes it took Into its employ" @ young man named F. 8, Jackson, who was im mediately installed as Custom House clerk of al “the establishment. The books of the foreign im- ahieteh department were placed entirely unde: contro He, and he alone, has had custody the papers, correspondence, invoices and boo! relating to the had an and transmission of mer- chandise from foreign countries. To his exclusive keeping has been coniided all the accounts, ana ta im been entrusted the duty of gece img that the business with the Custom! authorities has been transacted faithfully an ‘promptly. All duties have been paid by he oxen of greenbacks into pole necessary Jor discharging the firm’s obligations with th ‘Treasury has been effected by him,and he has, 1 short, acted in the premises as one of the fi except in one important particular. That relat to the oaths which the government require shal be made to the invoices, and which, in the case of this firm, has always been personally made an@ subscribed to by either Mr. Marsh or Mr. Brown. DOING DOUBLE DUTY. In an interview with Mr. Jackson, the HERALD reporter has ascertained that during the two ears Which he has been employed by the firm e has at the same time drawn a handsome salary from the government as a secret service officer, of the ey Department, as well as irom Jordan, Marsh & Co, In seven cases, Mr. Jacksom asserts, there 1s indisputable evidence of the guiit of the firm, and the fines imposed upon conviction will not be less than $1,500,000, and it is possible this amount may be increased in consequence of developments irom the investigation now in prog- ress. The fact that Mr. Jackson acted in the doubie! capacity of an employé of Jordan, Marsh & Co. and a@ detective of the government, drawing @ salary irom both, is explained by the fact that “he has @ brother,” and this brother was once employed by @ prominent New York importing house as a Cus- tom House clerk, but is now a special agent of Mr. Jayne, a secret service agent of the Treasury De- partment of the district of New York. Through this brother in Mr, Jayne’s employ the Boston, Jackson was worked upon so far as to. become the informer in the present allegation of frauds, NATURE OF THE FRAUDS, ‘The affidavit upon which the warrant for seizura, was granted deposes that the alleged fruuds ara of different classes, and in respect to different im- portations of merchanaise; that class one, of said Irauds, consisted of under and over charges in the invotces to affect the classification of the imported’ merchandise, and consequent the rates andi amounts of duty to be charged thereon; that ho had been called upon to examine the invoice lr the Custom House, and entries and other oMcial documents; also certain invoices, bills and letters* from the hoon of foreign houses from which, the merchandise was purchased by Jordan, Marsh & Co,, and also certain letters passing between such foreign houses and Jordan, Marsh & Co., concerning the purchase, sale and rices at which the goods were purchased, and other documents, which he has Treason to believe are genuine, and show the true prices and cost of the goods; and that he finds evi- dence thereirom showing that goods have been fraudulently imported. He also declares he has seen a letter of the foreign house of Messrs. N. S. Longee, Grandage & Co, to Messrs, Jordan, Marsit & Co,, and an account of Messrs. Longee & Blair, the successors of the Joreign house of Longee, Grandage & Co., with Jordan, Marsh & Co.; and also a Memorandum of particulars of under and over charges, turnished by Longee & Blair, and ® certain otter memorandum from the foreign house of Longee, Grandage & Co., dated August 5, 1873, in which under charge clearly appears; and also @ letter to Jordan, Marsh & Co., dated February 17,, 1873, from the toreign house of A. Van Bergen & Co., in which under sharges clearly appeared. The alleged frauds in class two, the special agent states, relate to cases in which the costs of car- toons were not added to the invoices, and in some instances were deducted from the invoices. ‘The alleged iraud in class three, as indicated i invoices aud letters from the foreign houses of Messrs. S, Allain & Co. and ©, Wichelinann & Co., relates to the exportation of merchandise in bond and its reimportation without change of owner- ship, and entries by invoices by which the cost of the goods was stated at less than actual cost and true dutiabie value. ‘The alleged frauds in class four, as indicated by. original invoices from the foreign houses of S. Allain & Co., Chickall, Jay & Marshall and Mel- grove, and a@ letter from 8. Allain & Co., brought’ over by Mr. Joraan as a passenger, relate te goods contained in his trunks, it appearing from the in- voices and other sources that the value stated im them was largely in excess of the appraised value upon which duty was assessed. In relation to the frauds alleged in class six, it is stated that all the goods therein named were: dutiable gooas, and were entered by means of in- yoices in which the cost was declared to be much, below the actual cost, as appears by the origtnal: invoices and letters. As to the frauds alleged in class seven, it 4 claimed that by the original invoices presented a the Custom House and by other invoices speciall: furnished to Jordan, Marsh & Co., which have veem compared with the originals, and from letters from the shippers,*false fictitious discounts clearly, aj z PSs igo alleged: that the frands were committed knowingly by Jordan, Marsh & Co. The aifidavit iat supplemented by anotuer, subscribed to by R. Kimball, J. W. Davis, J. T. Morehouse and Cyrus EB.’ Graves, to the effect that they have aided Mr, Bingham in his examination, and that they beltev: that the invoices, books aad fg of Jordai Marsh & Co. will show false involces, practices an appliances on the part of that firm. The VR men who signed the affidavit jast alluded to, to- ee Special Agent Bingham, are superin- ending the examination of the books. PUGILISTS TO BE PROSECUTED, Bostox, Dee. 29, 1873. At Lynn this morning John Conlan and Thomas Gately, the principals in the late prize fight at Saugus, were held, each in the sum of $6,000, te appear on Thursday morning next for examina~- not each for the or Reon fo appear on at next to answer ol ol of Kee! a She Haus’ Was Bouse.