Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-04-21

papers of yesterday:
1--WE learn that the clerks in the Depart
ments are issuing proposals to look up bounty
land claims, and transactins such business
generally during their regular Office hours"
This story is an unblushing and unmitigated
fslsehood 1t is against the law for any Gov
ornment employee here to engage in any such
transaction, subjecting him to fne and i'm
prisonment, as well as the loss of Office. No
man here employed by the Government would
dream Of engaging in any such gross violation
of the privileges and trusts of his position 1t
probably originated in tho circular Of some
agent or other, who intimated that he had
greater facilities than others in tho prosecu.
tien Of claims.
The Rumored Authorization OF Cuba Mr.
EDITOR: The brief paragraph of the Star of
the day before yesterday under this head is
evidently intended to create the belief that, il
the version of the Spanish Minister'S speech
containing assurances to the holders of prop
erty in Cuba, be true, the dreaded disturbance
OF the social condition Of that Island becomes
phantom deserving ridicule. The title
adopted for the paragraph proves that such
was the intention, because the substance of it
was merely some evidence that the speech was
spoken or written and handed as official If
my surmise be correct as to the purpose of the
writer, he proposes to stop the mischief in
time. Having watched the positive change in
the policy Of Spain during the last six or eight
years, In the Interpretation of the laws, in
the rural police, in the system Of labor and
IN the moral prestige and power accorded to
each OF the two races who stand upon her soil,
and being advised by every steamer of some
practical overthrow of tho ancient safeguards
OF order and peace, am ready to repeat the
words introduced on a similar occasion 10 the
work OF the Attorney for the Spanish Crown,
when Spain was yet conservative for Cuba
" s. thousand times preferable would it be
that the British Government had frankly pro.
posed, if that were its intention, the complete
emancipation of the slaves :"
In reply to this communication, we have to
say that our purpose in publishing the para.
graph to which it alludes, was simply to an
nounce to the country facts of great public
Importance, which had come to our knowle 90
through advices from Madrid, received by
mere than one foreign legation in Washing
ton. Viz: that the American Charge at Madrid
On the day after the delivery of NJ. Luzuria
III.
ment, formally interpellatsd that Minister as o
the tenor Of his remarks, and that NJ. l.. had
promptly returned for answer an official COPY
Of the speech in question, wherein the purpose
Of the differentiation of Cuba, to prevent it
frcn passing from under Spanish authority, or
for any other purpose whatever, was distinctly
denied-the denial being accompanied by a
strong argument to show that Spain had moth
ing to gain by resorting to that policy, even as
a last effort to retain the island. We further
essayed to say, that it was believed among the
foreign diplomatists in this city, that the last
European arrival brought to our Government
an official account of the Interpolation and
Mr.. Lazuriaga's reply thereto. As to the
amount of credence to be given properly to
that reply, we can express NO opinion, it en-.
braces an earnest official denial of the truth
Of the Authorization allegation, which, we
take it for granted, will receive the consider
alton to which this Government, in view of all
the facts within its knowledge, may deem to
be justly its due.
porary suspension of the operations Of the
of the California branch mint and the embar-
rsssment of the San Francis co business COM
munity, the Assistant Treasurer there finds
himself without sufficient funds in hand to
meet outstanding drafts. To enable him
promptly to pay all demands, the Secretary of
the Treasury has ordered $500, 900 in specie to
be sent to the Pacific side, which with the bull.
lion on hand will be sufficient to settle all
claims on the Government there on, presenta.
ton, until the examination of the mint having
been completed, it will coin more than sufi-
Client to meet the wants of the Government in
that quarter.
Agricultural.-Ths Patent Office (agricul.
tursl branch) have recently distributed fifty
barrels of English seed potatoes, for expert.
menting among the agricultural societies of
the Northern and Western States, whore the
climate best suits them. This variety of DO.
tato is very productive in England, bears late
planting, and has never been known to be at.
tackled by disease. 1t is recommended to
plant the product for two years in suco .ssion
ct least, if it should not succeed well the first
or second.
The Port Of Nilwaukie.-The establishment
Of new line Of steamboats, between this port
and ports on the Canada side has made the
services of an additional inspector necessary
there, and the collector has appointed Mr..
James Rice to that position.
The Vicksburg Ma rins Hospital. Sec.
rotary Of the Treasury has awarded to Mr..
Theodore Adams, of Vicksburg, the contract
Tor the construction of the marine hospital at
tnat point, and Capt. John Bobb, ST., has
been appointed superintendent the reof.
Inc 81 Lawrence and her Officers This
snip Will be at once pus out of commission,
A. = day or two three months leave will
Do duly forwarded to all her officers 81.