The New York Herald Newspaper, November 5, 1877, Page 3

SPAIN AND AMERICA Interview with the Spanish Min- ister of State, SENOR SILYELA’S VIEWS. Therian Efforts to Maintain Friendly Re- lations with the United States. RUMORED HOSTILE ACTION OF AMERICA. Good Prospects of the Conclusion of a New Treaty of Commerce, THE CUBAN WAR. Spain Making a Supreme Effort to Crush the Rebels. AID FROM THE HERALD WANTED. o_o Mapaip, Oot, 17, 1877. A statement made by the Washington correspond- ent of one of the Madrid papers to the effect that the American government had issued on the 7th of Octo- ber a decree imposing an extraordinary differontial bharge of fifty cents per ton on all Spanish vessels entering ports of the United States, has created con- Biderable excitement here among Spanish merchanta, ‘The press, too, is rather excited and formulates de- mands for retalistory measures, Whon the news was published it naturally created a good deal of surprise, ‘as it is pretty well Known that the present govern- ment has shown a most friendly spirit in its dealings with the United States, and seems sincerely anx- lous to place tho relations of the two countries on such a basis as will effectually remove all excuse for discontent, Not less surprised than the Spaniards At the reported action of the Washingtoa government, tho representative of the Hxraup called on the Min- ister of State, Sefior Silvela, to request some informa- tion about the causes which might be suppesed tu have Yaduced the goverument of the United States to adopt & line of conduct so unusual and’ so unfriendly, The forrespondent found tho Minister in bis study, bard at work with Sefior Prendergast, the head of the State Department. Though evidently very busy Seior Sil- vela put aside his work and wolcomed the HsRaLp Fopresentative with warmth and good will. THREE LUOKY EDITORS, Sefior Silvela began by saying:—It always gives me Great pleasure to mect with representatives of the Press, especially with gentiomen connected with such great and influcotial journals as the Huzann, the more Bo because in the beginning of my career I was myself Bjournalist, In connection with two other gentlemen Tedited the Diario Espanol—a very small journal, to be sure, compared to the great newspaper you repre- Bent, One of my old collaborateurs is also in the Min- istry and the other ts Minister at Vienna. 80 you seo it 1 natural that I should take an interest in journal- ists.” This was said in an casy, of!-hand manner, and at once set the correspondent at ease, Having thanked the Minister for his kiud reception the correspondent explained that the immediate object of his visit was to learn the viows of the Minister of State op the ru- mored imposition of a differential duty on Spanish shipping ontering American ports, UNFRIENDLY ACTION, Tho Minister replied:—‘I was. astonished that the American government sbould have taken so unfriendly & step; the more so that I have received no official in- formation from our Minister in Washington or trom Mr. Lowell, who, of course, was not compelled to commuptoate the factto me unless directed by his Rovernment. But I cannot understand how Sefior Mantilla, our Ministor in Washington, who is vory active and intelligent, should have allowed a decree so deeply affecting the interests of Spain to escape him, Indeed, I think {t most unlikely that he should do gv, and am therefore inclined to doubt the correctness of the statement which has appeared in the Madrid papers, 1: may be that there was a rumor in circula” Yon to the effect that the government intended to adopt sach a measure and that some journalist as- Bumed that tho decree had been already issued and Bont the news to Madrid. I have alrondy sont a telo- Bram to Washington to inquire whother or not such a deoree has been issued, and as soon as the reply comes Ishallinform you. Wocan then have another con- ference,” POWER OF RETALIATION, Corresronpent—It appeared strange and unlikely to mo that our government ehould nave adopted so yiolent a measure at a time when both governments Maintain such friendly rolations. Misisten or Statg—I confess that I cannos under- Bland why your go ‘ment should adopt a measure ‘that would inflict great injury on our restricted com- merce, I am on oxcelient terms with Mr. Lowell, Who 1s a charming gentlemen and very intolligent. The imposition of a differontial auty on Spanish ship, ping would, of course, do us a great deal ot harm; but wo have {t in our powor also to inflict consider- able injury on American shipping by the imposition Of retaliatory duties, It appears to me, however, Quite unworthy of two great nations to act like school- boys trying to do each other harm, By our lawa could within twenty-four forontial tax ali American ships trading to Spanish ports; but even should it prove true that your govornment has imposod the ex- traordinary tax, as alleged, [ would see Mr, Lowell, and make representations through our Min- ister at Washington, and in fact exhaus' ry means before adopting measures of retaliation, because I fool mutual injury would be the ouly result of such o Soneeloss policy. Besides, | am by conviction a free trader, but I recognize that in the present condition of Spain th are humerous interests which must be protected. Only whon all efforta to effect an acoom- modation by reasonable means had failed would 1 tonsent asa last resource to measures of retaliation, Measures of this nature are always impolitic, because they only serve to embitter the minds of the partici to the controversy and render m able hours establish a air- difficult @ reason. 4 amicable arrangement of the orig able and friendly solution of all questions peading be- tween the two countries. SACRIVICES FOR PEACE SAKE. Mister ov StatE—Wo also are sincerely desirous of maintaicing friendly relations with the people and government of the United States, In proof of this I ean cite you the recent payment of 5,000,000f., awarded by the Washington Commission, I confess it cost me @ good deal to pay these claims, because the money went not to real American citizens, but to rebels like Guicourta, who had covered them- selves with the mantle of American citizenship. Still, as we bad @ commission of arbitration, and desired to maintain friendly relations, the money was paid for peace sake, Another example of the friendly feeling which animates our government was furnished by my action in the case of tho trouble caused by the detention of the American whaler Fairchild, which was described in very large letters by the American papers as “‘anotber Spanish outrage.” Now, it was not a Spanish outrage, but a mere act of stupidity on the part of the captain of a Spanish bark, and as soon asone of our guuboats appeared on the acene the Neutonant in command ordered the immodiate release of the whaler and allowed her to proceed on her way. As soon as I fearned that come trouble of this nature had occurred, without wailing to be informed of the details, 1 immediately telegraphed to our Minister in Washington, **Inform the Minister of State that if any Spanish official bas acted iliegally he shall bo punished ; if any Amorican citizen has suffered loss in this affair he shail be indemnified.” So you seo the detention of the whaler was no morea Spanish outrage than if on going out some police officer should arrest you. It would not be an outrage but an act of stupidity, which I would punish by fining the officer. Connesroxpsxt—With the establishment of sounder and more liberal commorcial relations most of the vexatious questions which continually tmpert! the good understauding between the two countries would disappear, TOO BUSY TO MAKE TREATIES, Mixistsk or StaTR—We desire to facilitate busi- ness and introduce needed modifications into our commercial relations with the United States, but it is | matter which requires considerablo attention and Study in order that tho interests of the Peninsula may not be sacrificed, And for a number of years we havo been so occupied with civil wars here in Spain, and with the insurrection in Cuba, that there has been no time to take up the consideration of a new commercial treaty with America, Here, in the Peninsula, we havo bad to deal with a civil war which burned and sacked and inflicted on the country all the evils of a foreign invasion, Spain bas been calied upon to make great efforts aud sacrifices within the past few years and has had little time to think of anything but sup- pressing those civil disorders. Now we aro trying to suppress finally the Cuban insurrection, and as soon ag we have succeeded we will turn all our attention to putting our relations with the United States upon a more liberal and satisfictory footing. Wo hope to put an end to the Cuban war this winter, STAMPING OUT THR INSURRECTION, Corresroxpent—We know that Spain is making great efforts to suppress the insurrection, MinisTeR of Stare—Within the past year we havo despatched 36,000 troops to Cuba, Our army in the island at present numbers 100,000 men; so you may judge the efforts and sacrifices which havo been imposed on Spain, The insurrection to-day is no longer important, and the operations in the field have rather the character of man hunting than of military operations directed against a formiuable rebellion, The large insurgent bands have becn all dispersed, and the men who still remain in arma are hidivg in the woods by threes and fours, and have fhore tne character of ranaway slaves and outlaws than rebols, All the mon of consideration are dead or have escaped to the United States, and those who remain are chiefly Chinese and criminals, who dare not surrender, becauso their lives are forfeited on account of crimes commuted against society, These men will, of course, have to be killed or captured, as they are not likely ever to surrefder. They count a good deal on the climate te protect them and tho dif- culty the troops have im discovering their hiding places in the mountains and woods, GESERAL CAMPOS’ COLUMNS. ‘The prosont military operations consisted in hunt. ing down theso bands, With this object General Mar- tinez Campos, who is @ man of great energy and bravery, has divided his army into columns of twenty men each, From this you can judgo how powerless the insurrection is when columns of twenty men can march about the country in safety, If tho insurrec- tion were at all important thi columns would be overwhelmed. In order to show his troops an exam- plo the Genoral-in-Chiet moves irom point to point through tae country with only an escort of tweaty cavalry soldiers, SPAIN'S WORST ENEMY, ‘The chief difficulty our troops have to encounter is the unbealthiness of the climate. Perhaps fifty thou- sand men aro on the sick Ist, suffering chiefly from fevers, I have beea told by army officers that tho embarrassment arising from this cause coustantly hampers the military operations, A columa, say of five hundred men, starts out on an expedition, The soldiers accomplish the first day’s march without ap- parent cuffering or fatigue, bat in the morning, when the roll is called, a hundred men are down with fever and unable to continue the march. These men havo then to be eent back, with strong guard to protect them, so that one day in the fleld has sufficed to re- duce tho strength of the column one-half. Theso fevers do not kill the men, like the vomito, but they render thom unfit for servico. This has boen one of our chiet difficulties in suppressing the ineurrection ; haif our army 18 constantly in hospital or convalescing in the towns, Cornksronpext—Would it not be possible for the Spanish government to conclude a treaty of commerce with the United States without waiting for tho conclu- sion of the Cuban war? PREPARING & TREATY, Mivisten ov Stare—I have already sent directions to our Minister at Washington to prepare a drait of such @ treaty, 1t is, howovor, @ matter of consider- able importance, and requires stady im ordor that tne Interests of tne Pentnsalar may not suffer, Wo will bi to examine the tariffs, aod must proceed cau- viously, 80 a8 not to produce any violent shock to our commerce, There would be no diMcalty about mak- ing @ treaty of commorco for the Peninsular similar to thore we have mado with other Powers, and for tho colonies of tho Philippines, Porto Rico and Cuba a subsequent treaty could be arranged. DIFVICULAING IN THE WAY, ConngsroxpaxT—Iut wo are chiefly interested in obtaining greater facilities to trade with Caba, as wo are tho chief purchasers of the produots of tho island, Mintatea ov Btate—No doubt a treaty of com- fioulty. ConkkaPowpayt—Public opinion in the United States ts with Bpain, There are, of course, soe exceptions; put ee vast majority of the population desires » puave: merce which would facilitate the exchange of Caban and American products would oonfer benefits on both countries, Tho Amerionns would make their militona, NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, NOVEMBER make a profit. There are, however, serious diffieul- ties in the way which may render it impossible for to accord all that America demands, We modify considerably existing as to confer considerable advantage on American merchants, Where a reduction of twenty is sougbt we may be abie to accordten; but before any- thing 1s undertaken we will have carefully to examine the proposed changes, so as to be certain that they sball not destroy interests which have a right to pro- tection, us can, however, laws 60 AFRAID OF AMERICAN AGGRESSION, In making a treaty of commerce affecting Cuba we have to combat a popular belief that the United States entertains hostile feelings toward Spanish domination in that island, When we propose any measure look- tng to the facilitating of commercial intercourse be- tweon the United States and the Antilles we are met with the warning to be careful lest by increasing the in- tercourse with the American States we should prepare the way for annexation, Could the Spanisn people be convinced that the people and government of the United States bad abandoned all desire for the annexa- tion of Cuba, as you assure me, then the way to the establishment of satistactory commercial relations would be comparatively easy. If the public could be convinced that you only wanted to trade with Cuba and had definitely abandoned all thought of territo- rial aggression ‘much of the difficulty that lies in the ‘way would disappear, 1am glad so powertul and in- fluential a journal as the Hxxatp should entertain sound views on this question, ‘The service it can ren- dor to the two countries by directing the curront of popular fecitng toward the maintenance of friendly relations is simply incalculabie. BISMARCK ON COLONIZATION. For myself, 1 cannot understand why the United States should covet Cuba, It secms to mo they possess all the territory they can possibly want, In Telation to the acquisition of colonies the example of Bismarck 1s worthy of attention. Ho is known for his great ability and tho sounduess of his views, At one time it was thovght that he was anxious to esiab- lish colonies in tho West Indies ana in tho Pacife Ocean; but he wants nothing of the kind. On the contrary, he ts opposed to the smatiest acquisition of colonial territory. Lately, when purchasing a port whero the German navy could refit and coal from the” Polynesian chiois, it was expressly stated in tho agreement that the sovereignty of the land remained with the chiefs, so that the Germans are mere tenants, Now, had he desired he could bave purchased the sovereignty of the port, and, for that matter, of the Island too; but ho prefers to exploit the colonics of others rather than saddle himself with the trouble and responsibility which foreign colonies bring. INVLUENCK OF THR HERALD. If the Hxnaxp can induce the people of the United States to abandon all ideus of territorial aggression on Cuba, and content themselves with trading with us, it will have removed the grent obstacle in the way, of {ree commercial intercourse between our American colonies and the United States. On our side we will try to disabuse the public mind, by means of the Spanish prosa, of the apprehension of American ag- gression, and once the public fearon this point has been allayed the way will be open toa thoroughly satisfactory arrangement of the commercial relations of our colonies with your country. EXTINCTION OF SLAVERY, It should be now all the easier to come to a friendly understanding, because the slavery question, which caused so much controversy, is now practically set- ued. Slavery may be said to be at end in Cuba. It is true there aro still slaves in the island, but they aro rapidly disippearing, and I regret to gay that as they disappear the wealth of the country diminishes. All who are born now in tho island are free, and In a tew years all tho slaves will bave disappeared, Unforta- nately the climate will not allow white men to take their place—at least not in the cano fielda. The to- bacco culture, perhaps, can be carried on by white men, but the principal source of wealth is the sugar culture, The question of obtaining laborors is, there- Jore, @ pressing and important one. We are en- gaged in treaty with China which will allow but ig the statug to be given them. It is not possible to grant these people the same rights and liberties which we coacede to men of our own race or to Germans, Englishmen or Americans, Their social ideas and their religion are so opposed to ours that it 18 not possible to admit thom effecting a the the great dimeulty importation of coolios, in their case to the enjoyment of the same rights as wo grant to tho white race. But we hope to solve this question in a eatisiactory manner. Corresrospent—The question of obtaining laborers would be easily solved if the pacification of the island were offected and prosperity restored, A treaty of commerce which would facilitate the development of our business relations with Cuba would materially aid tho Spanish government m restoring peace and con- cliiating the Cuban pupul making money ana prospering th: to look with favor on rebellions or revolusions, Minister oF StatkR—That is quite true, and if tho 101 for when men aro are little inclined Hunauo wilt aid us in developing mutual feclings of friendship between the two peoples I have hopes that we will bo ablo to errive at a speedy and saits- factory settiement of all questions which interest the two nations, You must, through the columns of your great paper, assure the Amorican people that the Spanish government desires to maintain and de- ‘voiop the most friendly relations with then ‘The correspondent here took leave of Sefior Silvela, attor thanking him for the pationce he had shown and the kind sentiments he had been pleased to ex- pross during a somewhat protracted interview. STUCK FOR DRINKS. ‘Areckless, drunken vagabond named Barney Flood ‘went lato & liquor saioon at No, 154 Forsyth street oa Saturday night, and when tho bartender, Herman Pfeish, refused to give him any liquor without pay, commenced to create a disturbance. Pleish camo from behind the bar to eject him, when he suddenly pulled a large knife out of his pocket and cut Pfeisch in the wrist, Jadge Otterbourg yesterday committed Fiood ta $1,000 vail to answer, ‘ANOTHRK THIRSTY DESPERADO, Patrick Roouey, residing in Hudson street, near Tenth, has been on a spree for a week past. Yes terday morning, about tev o'clock, while in a par- tially demented state trom the effects of too much stim- ulant, he went inw Henry Blankman’s saloon, No. 63 Eighth avenge, and quarreilea with the bartender, Edward Saronsen, Saronson told him three times to leave the salvon, and on bis pomtive refusal came from behind the bar and put bim out, Rooney came back again in a few minutes, and while Saronsen was in the act of ejecting him again he siapbed Saronsen in the abdomen with a large clasp knife, Rooney wag ested by Ufficer Dowling, of the Ninth precinet, and edical attendance was at once procured tor tho wounded man, Rooney, on being arraigned bofore Judge Morgan at Kysex Market Court, was commited Jn $2,000 buil for examination. The barkeeper is now lying at bis residence, No. 63 Eighth avenue, in a very dangerous condition. our OF THE RIVER. Michael Robinson, whilo fishing in the Harlem River opposite to Randail’s Island, yesteraay morning, discovered the dead body of @ man about sixty years of ago, Deceased was of medium height, witn a smooth face and bald head, and wore a gray suit of clothes and a gray woollen jacket, His hat and shoes ‘wore miauing. 1 body of John Gairity, cight yours of age, of No. but 0 would tho Spaniards, bocause commoree ta net whelly fer tho bancdt of eno party, both mana \ 784 Third avonue, Brooklyn, was recovered from the tot Twonty-sixth street on Bat! was notified, WASHINGTON. | An Intrigue to Defeat the Presi- dent’s Nominations. TEMPTING BAIT 70 THE DEMOCRATS. Attitude of the Administration Toward Mexico, MR, TILDEN’S STATUS IN THE PARTY Undue Haste of the Inflationists and Silver Men. PROSPECTS FOR BUSINESS IN THE HOUSE. FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT, Wasuisatoy, Nov. 4, 1877, LABORS OF ANTI-ADMINISTRATION SENATORS TO DEFEAT PRESIDENT HAYES’ NOMINATIONS— ADMISSION OF THE LOUISIANA SENATORS A SOP v0 THE DEMOCRATS, The intrigue by republican Senators last Maron, which had for its object the defeat, by the help of democrats, of the Cubinet, has been renewed bere, the object now being to gain over democratic Senators to holp the anti-Hayes republicans to defeat many of the President’s nominations, The same republican Senators who plotted to procure the rejection ot the Cabinet in March are believed to be engaged tn the present scheme, which is about as certain to fail as the former effort, There 1s a feeling of intense bittor- ness among some republican Senators toward the President, andthey are determined to break down his nominations and his policy at all haz«rds, There is a rumor that the Louisiana Senators— Spofford and Eustts—could be put tn at once, and by the act of prominent republican Senators, if they were ablo to assure these in their turn of enough demo- cratic votes in the-Senate to defeat some of the promi- nent nominations of the President now before the Senate, The ant+Hayes mon would need atleast a dozen domocratic Senators to help them in their sebeme, TACTICS OF THH INFLATIONISTS AND SILVER MEN—HOW THE EFYORT TO RUSH THROUGH IMPORTANT MEASUBES IS REGARDED, Phere 1s a good deai of feeling here over the per- sistent attempt of the inflationists and unlimited sil- ver men to rush their schemes through the House by akind of surprise, A good many men who honestly favor the measures proposed by Messra Ewing and Buckner are offended by these tactics, Such members gay that they do not so thoroughly comprehend these questions as to make further information unacceptable. They see that the proposed bills are of the greatest importanco in their bevrings on every in- dustrial and commercial intorest of the country, and they admit that such measures ought not to come to a vote until they have been folly and freely discussed, From such debate these gentlemen hope to gain valu- able information to enable them to vote intelligently, nd they do not sympathize with the attempt of Messrs, Ewing and Buckner to capture the House by surprise, This feeling 18 growing, and of course it weakens tho inflationists and silver men, Mr. Buckner himself 1s a moderate man, who, it 1s but fair to say, does not thoroughly comprehend theso questions, but is moved by the majority of the com- mittee. Ho mot with a droll mishap on Saturday, The report of bis committee in favor of anlimited sil- ver, which he presented in the shape of a bill, was taken from him by a vote of the House, and turned over to the Committeo on Coin- age, of which Mr, Aloxander H. Stephens is chairman, Of course Mr. Buckuor may introduce a new report and bill to the same purpose and it is prob- able he will do so. The silver people are eaying to- night that the drst bill was given over to Mr. Stephens merely to humor a foeble old gentleman who wants something todo, Mr. Stepnens is a pretty energetic man and will not like this way of putiing it. The Committee on Banking aud Curroucy appear to be controlled by Mr. Ewing. {t contains, po- aides the Chairman, four democratic inflationis and silver men—Mosers. Kwing, of Ohio; Hart- sell, ot Illinow; Yates, of North Carolina, ava Bell, of Georgia—with two repablican in- flatiomists—Fort, of Illinois, and Philitps, of Kansas, The hard money men are Chittenden, of New York, and Eames, of Rhode Island (republicans), and Hard- eubergh, of New Jersey, and Hart, ot New York (democrats) Mr. Buckner, of Missouri, the cbair- man, 18 a silver man, who does not, so far, exercise much influence over tho deliberations, Messra, Kwing and Chittenden are tho two positive men on tho committce, Most of the other members are probably following their prejudices and the supposed demands of their constitu- ents rather than any matured convictions born of study of the questions they have undertaken but failed to consider, This accounts for the fact that it took this brilliant committee but two or three days to prepare and agree upon two of the most important and far reaching measures which have ever been pre- sented to the House. If the members really knew anything of the subjects they could not possivly have come to a conclusion so quickly nor would they haye ventured to demand an immediate vote without de- bate on their propositions, Men who comprehend such questions are more modest. Mk. TILDEN’S STATUS IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARIY—UNFAVORABLE COMMENTS FROM CON- GRESSMEN, The death of Senator Morton bas caused some dis- cussion bere in democratic circles as to his saccessor, in the course of which the supposed wishes of air, Tilden about the Indiana Senatorship oceastonaily crop out. In this way it bas become evident that he has really almost no friends in the democratic party hore, Tne idea that ho entertains hopes of a nome uation in 1880 Is received with a smile, ana he proves to possess no bold, so faf as can be Been, on any part of the democratic party, The Bourbons, or extremists, say that bis indecision and dilatoriness are to blame that the republicans were able to carry Mr, Hayes into the White House. They say that his poliey was all right, but that by the time he had made up his mind to it it was too late to carry It out; that, for instance, if he had opposed the Kiectoral Commission in tho be« ginning tt would have been doteated; but that when he decided that it ought to be opposed it was too late, Anothor large class of democrats complain that h mauifested a propensity to interlere in many matters which ought to be left to the general councils of the party; that he was at the same time dilatory and dictatorial, and that he seemed to imagine that wis- dom began and ended with him. It is added that his habit of choosing his advisers and favorites trom the other party, and showing more confidence in and devotion to new converts than to consistent dom- ocrats, 18 a blunder, especially as the kind of men ne thas selects have not approved themselves real democrats, but rather belong © @ class of imprac- ticable and fanciful politicians bent on carrying out their own theories rather than devoted to the oid fashioned democratic principles and policies, It | may be Said, in short, that while it is genorally con- coded that Mr. Tilden would in some respects have made @ good Presiaent, his characteristic traits of in- decision, dogmatisin and others have loft a bad taste in the mouths of the democrats in Congress, They will never trust their fortunes to him again; nor is it certain that he will over be permitted to have much influence in democratic councils, fhe general ex- pression is that bo has had his chance ana ought now to rest in quiet, and that any movements for making him again a Presidential candidate aro absurd. OUR MEXIAN RELATIONS—ATTITODE OF THR ADMINISTRATION—VIRWA ENTERTAINED IN GOVERNMENT OIROLES. Tho attitude of tho administration to-vard Mexico ie one of waiting It in hold that Diaz has over. AhroOwn cpnatitutienal ardar in Bia oannirvs that 1877.-WITH SUPPLEMENT. jn doing so he has assumed a very grave responsi- bility, to which be must be held; that when he asks for recogaition ought to be able to show that he is really able to govern, and the test of this ability, for us, is whether ho ean control the lawless elements oa the border. If be cannot do this he has no claim to recognition trom us, for he loses the only excuse for iuterrupting and overturning the regular constitu- Uonal order and succession, It is admitted that Lerdo, who was the constitutional Prosi- dont, did no better than Dies, but tho desire of this government to encourage @ settled and constitutional order of government in Mexico, it is said, made us patient with Lerdo’s shortcomings, in the hope of an impreving condition, No such sentimental policy is required toward Diaz, who must show bis ability to rule betore he can claim to be reo ognized, Al the same timo itis freely ackuowiedged in admin- istration circles that neither war against Mexico nor Annexation is advijable, even under circumstances of great aggravation, because it is felt that the sentiment of this couatry is decidedly hostile to either, and especially \o any further acquisition of territory on our Southern border, Mr. Blaine 18 believed to have spoken the general opinion of the country when he opposed anuexation ip bis Fourth of July speech at Woodstock, Nor, if annexation were popular, does any one pretend to see how it could be accomplished without war, tor it is acknowledged that no ruler could at present muintain bimself in Mexico who should consent to gede apy part of the Mexican territory or who should even lie under the euspicion of being willing todo 8 ‘The Mexivan policy is, therefore, beset with dilleul- ties, 1t is argued here that an acquisition of the Northern States of Mexico would boa venelit to thoze States und a greater benefit to what would remain of Mexico, The Moxtean people, reduced to narrower boundaries, would, it is suid, undoubtedly be able to sel up astronger and more stalle government, and the revival of Mexican prosperity would, it is tought, date from euch a joss of territory. But this view, it is confessed, 18 not popular, and could not even gel a hearing among the Mexican people. Ov the other hand, there are people here who assert Diuntly that the number and character of the froutier Outrages by Mexicans in tho last eighteen montus have been greatly exaggerated; that the present ill will und suspicion of the Mexicuns toward us bave boon fostered by designing Americans; that tuere 1s an annexation ring, composed of land speculators and adventurers, and that we have had far less cause to complain against Mexico since Diaz began to rule thau for years before; that Diiz has shown bimsoll a truly liberal ruler, who, while bampered with difll- culties, has yet suown a better disposition toward Ameriouns than his predecessor, and that, if our gov- ernment wish to foster peace and prosperity in Mexico and gain for Americans the control ot its markets, {1 ought to begin by giving the most positive and public assurances thut It does not desire or intend annexation, and wiil not tolerate any sebemes to thut end, With that fora basis, these people say, aud a kind and sympathetic, and, above ull, thor- oughly honest policy toward Mexico, and no threats of demands for damages such as it is known Mexico could not py, ail the real difficulties could be easily arranged, and Diag would be able to begin a really lib- eral policy toward Americans; but thet a policy which irritates the Mexican people and makes them suspicious of us ties the hands of Diaz and disables him trom carrying out a friendly ‘policy, bonetictal to bot nations. “These are the two views urged here, Meantime, the facts of the case are that negotiations between the two governments are conducted at the Mexican capital, tt being thought that Minister Poster is more thoroughly aware of the real situation in Mexico than a Mexican envoy residing in Washington could bo; and, pending negotiations, the administration feels bound to protect our border people to the utmost of its power with troops acting over a very wide and difficult region. SO REGULAR CORRESPONDENT. FROM OUR Wasaixaron, Nov, 4, 1877. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE BUSINESS ALRANGE- MENTS OF THE HOUSE. Among the tinprovements made by Speaker Randall in the business arrangements of the House is the re- moval of the reception room from within tho closed lobby to the room formerly used by the official re- porters on the outside of the corridor, This does away with the throng which used to choke up the passageway behind the Speaker's desk. The old recaption room, famoas for its portratts of ox- Spoakers aud its green silk upholstery, bas been as- Figned to the Committee on Coinage, of which Mr, Alexander H, Stophons is chairman, and the adjoining room, the Speaker's private room formerly, is signed to the oficial reporters, Mr. Randall has taken a room down stairs, with which a bell wire es- tablishes communication from the Speaker's desk overbead, MR. POTTSR AND THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE PACIFIC BALLROADS COMMITTEE, Mr. Clarkson N. Potter, chairman of the House Committee on Pacifle Railroads, went to New York yesterday, it 18 understood, tor the purpoge of con- sulting with friends as to the advisability of with- drawing bis letter declining the chairmanghip of the committee, The opinion expressed here is that no better selection could have been made, and that many urgent reasons exist for his retention at the head of the committee. The position occupied by the late Samuel Hooper, when chairman of the Banking and Carrency Committee, is cited as an in- stance that any member of the House assigned to an important trust is expected to discharge the duties ag a judicial trust, without regard to personal inter- ests, Mr. Hooper was largely interested im national bank stock, but did not refase the Banking and Cur- reucy chairmanship on that account, and Speaker Blaine even ruled that it was a question golely of in- dividual opinion whother a member interested tn banking associations should refrain from voting on measures affecting this Interest favorably or unfayor- ably, Mr. Potter’s qualifications commend him to the confidence of the House, and the general desire is that he remain in the position assigned him by the Speaker. ANTICIPATED EARLY ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE The Executive order closing tho departments to- morrow out of respect to the inemory of Senator Mor- ton, and the fact that the Senate will not be in session, itis thought, will influence the House to-morrow to adjourn very soon after the reading of tho journal, ‘There will be motions made to adjourn until Wodnes- day, and should there appoar to be any decided voto againat it the fiibustering tactics of tho opponents of the Repeal bill will be prominently exercised. GENERAL WASHINGTON OESPATCHES. Wastuxotos, Nov. 4, 19 THE PUSINESS BEFORE THE HOUSE OF THE ANTI-RESUMPLION AND SILVER BILLS, In the House to-morrow tho first business will bo the call of States for bilis for reference only; but as some nine aundred bills havo been introduced during the past week there cannot be any very large number in the desks of mombera, Alter (he call of States for bills, ifthere be any timo left of the morning hour it will po devoted to the call of States for resolutions, beginning with Maine. It isnot unlikely, however, that the policy of members on both sites will be to exclude alicbance of having resolutions offered by requiring the roading in lull of any bills that may be introduced, thus occupying the whole morning hour, Alver that motious to suspend tue rules will be in order, and one of the earliest of such motions will be made by Mr, Ewing, of Obio, in the matter of the bill to repeal the Resumption act. The proposition will, in substance, bo the same as that made yesterday by Mr. Kelley, of Pennsylvania, to make tho bill @ special order ater the morning hour, to continuo so from day to day, exception only being made for appropriation bills, till Thursday of next week. Judging from the tact that but ono member (Mr. Wilts, of New York) objected yesterday to the offering of Mr, Kelley’s rosoiution, it may not be impossible that the necessary two-thirds will bo found to accede to the proposition, The reference on Saturday of the bill for the free coinage of silver to the Committee on Coinage, Woighis and Measures will practically have the eflect of giving it an advantage which it would not have PROSE had if referred to the Committee on Banking avd Currency, as firet proposed by ite author, Mr. Buck- nat, Of Missourl, The advantage lie in tho tact that vhe latter committee has already exhausted the ‘@ omerning oura sliewad hy the jrulea 3 * each committee for reports and may mot be again called during the session, white the Committee on Coinage has got to be called, and can, therefore, report the bill to the House if ite members agree to do so, All bills, however, reported from committees are either confined to action in tho moruing hour or go tothe Committee of the Whole, and it is not easy to see how that rule (the only excep~ tlons to which are the Committees on Appropriations and Ways and Means) could bave beon very well evaged in the case of the Anti-Resumpiion bill. BYVECT OF SENATOR MORTON'S DEATH ON THE STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE SENATE. The death of Senator Morton will necessitate a ré- arrangement of the standing comm:ttees of the Sen- ate, though such action will probably not be taken until the beginnihg of the regular session, in Decem- ber, That Senator was chairman of the Committee on Privileges and Elections, which heads tho list of committees, and is regarded as one of the most im- portant of the Senate. He was also a member of the committees on Foreign Kelations and Railroads, hold~ ing the second place on the Committee oa Foreign Reiations, Mr. Mitchell, of Oregon, fs tho act ing chairman of tho Committee on Privileges and Elections, and ts also chuirman of the Commitice on Railroads, Should he accept the chairmanship of the former committee, to which he is entuled, ho will retire from the head of the Ratiroad Committee, Inthe rearrangement of the committees Mr. Teller, of Colorado, will probably be given @ ebairmansnip of some committee, as he is the only Senator whe held a seat prior to the 4th of March last who is not at the head of a committee, His colleague, Mr. Chaffee, was made chairman of the select committee to examine the several branches of the civil service when tho list was re-arranged last March during the extra session of the Senate held at that time, REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SPECIAL AGENTS OF THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT. David B, Parker, Superintendent of Special Agents of the Post Ofllco Department, has just submitted hia annual report to the Postmaster Genel from which it appears that during the year 543 persons were ar. rested tor offences against the postal laws, beimg 104 greater than in the preceding year, though during the last year tho number of special agents bad been rex duced, The persoos arrested bad committed every variety of offence known to the postal laws, and 172 of Lhe number wore transferred to the State courts te be tried for burglaries of post offices, highway robe beries of mails while in transit, murder of mail driv- ers, &e, Daring the year the special agents devoted much ‘time to miscellaneous business for tho d (ferent bureaus of the department—notably the examination of postmasters? boudsmen, aud in about four thou. sand cases involving the money order offices personal investigation was made, In conseqnence of financial revulsions all over tho country, it was found necessary to demand new bouds. Prosecutions have followed in some cases where frauduient bonds had been imposed on the department, Many cages of alleged improper sales of postage stamps were invos- tigated and postmasters removed for that cause, Tho whole nutnber of complaints of lost registered letters during tho year was 2,289, with a reported aggregate value of $54,410, of which 714 letters were recovered, and 216, valued at $10,510, accounted for by the ree covery of their contents from porsons who had stolen them or turough whose carelessness they were lost The percentage of aciual losses compared with the total number of letters registered durig the year, Viz, $4,348,127—is about one-fiftieth of one per cent, or onc in every 5,000 registered letters sent through the mail. Many of the losses occurred from unavoide able causes, Buch ag ruilroad and steamboat accidenw, fires, &e. THE TRADE OF THE BANAMAS WITH THB UNITED STATES-—-REPORT OF THE AMERICAN CONSUL AT NASSAU, N. P. ‘The United States Consul at Nassau, N. P., bas transe mitted an interesting report to the Department of State on the trade of the Bahamas with the United States and how to enlarge the same, The Babamas have suflered great commercial depression since the close of the Southern rebellion, at which time @ larga amount of capital was withdrawn from the islands by those who had prospered by blockade running, and who then withdrew to Evgiand and the United Stateq, Following this depletion came heavy losses in shipmentd of pineapples to the United States, the almost total ex- linction of the salt industry by our high tarifl, the exhaustion of the spongo grounds, and the closing of the Cuban coasis tothe Bahama fishermen sinco the commencement of tho rebellion in that isiand, New industries have, however, sprang up, Last year, for the first timo since the abolition of slavery, sugat and molasses wore manufactured (by American max chinery); several pineapple preserving factories have beon ostablished, the maclilvery, cans, cases, sugar, &e., being imported trom the United States, and the farmers are extensively entering upon the euitivation ol vegotables for the United States market, The salt tslands, which were formerly 80 prosperous and whos commercial tntercourse was 50 closely connected with the United States, have, witn exceptions, fallen into completo decay since the imposition of the im- port daty on that urticle in the United States, This leaves the pineapple indastry the main stay of tne Bahamas. ‘ So intimate are the commercial relations of the Bahamas and tho United Stues that, the Consul says, {four bigh duties on the imports ot saltand pinoe apples were abolished, an immense impetus would be given tothe trade and Industries of those islands which would result im an increased (rade with the United States, The salt producing islands would again assume their former prosperity, and whore decay now reigns, trade aud commerce would spring up, Until this abolition is effected it will be impossible to enlarge the (rade of the United States in the Bahamas lo any great extent. Even at prevent, against what may be called a prohibitory tari on the products of tho Bubamas, American manufactures are surely and steadily taking the placa of British manufactures, and tho Islands rely upon the United States almost altogether for the following articles:—All breadstuils, suit provisions, tobacco, sugar, repo, paints, ofls, liquors, cured fish, boots and shoes, and jatierly American cottons aro being tm. ported, ‘The development of the salt and pineappio industry of the Bahamas means tho development of trade im American goods, dollar for doliar, “and this develop. montcan only be attuned by the abolition of our high import duty on these two articies, ARCTIC EXPLORATION—-THE BILL OF MR, HUN« YER, OY INDIANA—CAPTAIN HOWGATL'S EX- PEDITION. ‘Tho bill of Congressman Morton ©, Hunter, of Ins diana, authorizing the equipment and sending of an explorationary party to search for the North Pole, has been placed in the hands of Representative Willis, by chairman Whitthorne, of tho House Naval Com- mittce, to which the bill was referred, Mr, Willie favorably reported Mr, Hanter’s bill of last session from the same committee, and ho will doubtiess take & similar course with reference to this one. There has been some misapprehension as to the scope of the present bill, 1t is a8 follows:— A Bint to authorize and equip an expedition to the Arctic seas Ho it enacted by the Se: fontatives of the Uniied St grosa assembled, ‘That the Iresident of the United States be authorized Lo orginize aud send out one of MOTO expeditions towari (he North Pole and to estab. lish @ temporary colouy for purposes of exploravon, At some point north of the eigtty first degree of norih © and House of Repro sof America in Con- atitude, oa or Hoag the shore of Lody Franklin Ba to detail suoh officers or other persous of the paviid service to take part so tho same as may bo nocessary, and to use any public youre! that may be ‘suitable for the parpoto; the relen. Uifle operations of the expodition to ve prosecuted in Kocordance with the advice of the National Academy Of Science; and that the sum of $50,000 thereo! us may bo necostary, be hereby Out of any moneys in the Treasury Hot otherwise ap- ropriated, to be expended under the direction of tha Presdent:' Provided, tat no part ol the sum so ap. Propriated Fhell bo carried to the surpins fund or couverod into tho Treasury wotl! the purpose of the ap- propriation shuil have been completed, but may ba Applied to expenses of said expedition incurred during y subsequent Your thay said expedition may bo e1 ged In its duties, It is understood that Captain Howgate, tho origi« nator of the famous Polaris oxpedition, will not go ta the Arctic regions noxt summor, ag he had contom~ plated, but wiil delegate the command of ihe exploriug patty to somo experienced and competent navigator lo caso Captain Howgate does not go it is more thaa Wkely that tho command will devolve upon Captian Tyson, Who Bow supposed to bo m winter quarters at Disco with tho advance crow of tho Howgute ex- plorera, No reason has yet been assignod for Captain Howgate’s contomplated withdrawal irom the com. 1 mand of the expedition,