The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-09-30
WASHINGTON ITEMS.


Mr.. Henry, messenger sent recently to our
Minister at Mexico, has returned, and reports
that Mr.. Forsyth is at little village three miles
out of the city of Mexico. He alleges the
prevalence of the vomito at Vera Cruz, and the
dangers of the Gulf at this season, as the reason
why he does not return home. In the mean
time, he gets his salary as if on duty.
Letters have been received from the African
squadron, dated Porto Praya, August II. The
health of those on board the squadron was
good.
The Commissioner on the part of the United
States for running the Texan boundary has
already met the Texan Commissioners, and they
are at work.
The State Department has received informa-
ton that the young English girl taken from the
Mormons by the United States Judge in Utah,
has been sent, under proper protection, to the
States, and it is believed that she will be COM
mitted to the charge of Lord Napier, or some
other British authority, who will undoubtedly
send her home.
The Suns Washington correspondent says:
I" From the finance branch of the General
Post Office, many important facts on the sub
ject of emigration to and through the vast ex
tent of our American States and Territories
may annually be gathered. The extent and
Importance of mail communication between the
Old and the New Worlds ia every quarter
abundantly evidenced. Letters in almost count.
less numbers from Europe are received, trans.
mitted from State to State, aud safely delivered
into the hands of hardy, enteEprisiDg men, who
have sought permanent homes on the rich soil
of our Western prairies. Still, Notwithstanding
the most perseveriRg efforts and fidelity of tie
Post Office Department, thousands of these let.
ters fail to reach the persons to whom they are
superseded.
"Under existing regulations, this class of
correspondence is safely made up and remailed
back to the countries from whence it came.
The way bills from oar General Post Office for
the fourth quarter of 1857 and first of 1858
show balance due to England alone for post.
age on letters returned of $l4l, 997.25. In
three quarters of 1857, there was due France
$25,4ll.57; to Hamburg, Sl,352.52; and to
Bremen, $2,830.55. Thus it will be perceived
that the whole amount of correspondence is
held sacred, from the moment it leaves the
writer's hand, through its transmission in both
countries, on It's return, and when back again.
until all means of restoration to its original
owner have have been tested in vain"
The Postmaster General has ordered that all
supplements or extras folded within the regu.
lar issues of newspapers, if not actual, bona.
fde editions of such journals, subject the en-
tire package to letter postage.
The receipts into the Treasury during the
last week amounted to 81, l66, OOO-a reduction
of nearly $264,000 as compared with the week
previous. The amount in the Treasury sub
ject to draft is Sl2, lOs,OOO.
The land cfice at Saltwater has been re.
moved to Cambridge, and that Faribault to St.
Peters, Minnesota.
By way of England, circulars have been re.
ceived from the U. s. Pacific and China SQUAD.
rons. The U. S. steamship Merrimac was at
Callao, July 9th, all well. The Decatur had
sailed on a cruise. The Mississippi was still
at Hong Kong, 9th July, but had everything
ready for sea. The Germantown had sailed
from Canton River. The Powhatan and Min
nesOta were, as per last sdvices, all well, at
the Gulf of Pecheelee.
The State Department has received informa.
ton that the mutineers Of the ship Tartar we're
at Sal, one of the Cape de Verde Islands, and
the Secretary of the Navy has transmitted in
structions to the flag officer of the African
squadron to send them to the United States for
trial
B6~ We were in error when we stated that
Mr.. Prescod, the gentleman whose interesting
paper on Emancipation in the West Indies
we lately printed, was a member of the ia.
maica Legislature. He is a member of the
Legislature of Barbados, and has been for thir.
teen years.
sI- In the various meetings which have
taken place upon the stump between Mr.. Doug,
las and Mr.. Lincoln, the latter has crowded the
former very closely upon the question of Squat
ter Sovereignty. In one of his late speeches.
Mr.. Douglas said
Whatever the Supreme Court may here
after decide as to the abstract question of
whether Slavery may go in under the Constitu-
tlon or not, the people of a Territory have the
lawful means to admit or exclude it, as thew
please, for the reason that Slavery cannot exist
day or an hour anywhere, unless supported
by local police regulations furnishing remedies
and means of enforcing the right to hold slaves.
These local and police regulations can only be
furnished by the local Legislature. If the peo-
ple Of the Territory are opposed to Slavery, they
VIII elect members to the Legislature who will