The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-08-25

instructive. Senior Lerdo viii remain in this
| country for several weeks.
The Secretary of the Treasury returned to-
day from his trip to Georgia.
Washington, August 2l.-There is still little
if any doubt, from circumstances which have re
Gently transpired, that convention or treaty be-
tween the United States and Mexico will soon
be concluded and received here from Minister
Mclean early in September, in which event
Senior Lerdo will return toeNew York, with a
view to conclude the pecuniary arrangements
all eady initiated by him, instead of first laying
his plans before the Juarez Government, as he
originally intended.
This treaty probably Will be confined mainly
to the United States transit line over Mexican
territory, with certain commercial privileges or
exemption from customs duties in that connec-
ton, together with provision for adequate means
of protection. 1t is confidently asserted that
the compensation for these advantages can
easily be rendered mutually satisfactory. Other
treaties will be proposed in due time, and in
these arrangements there is no reason to doubt
that provisions will be made for the satisfaction
OF the American claims against Mexico.
Distinguished friends of the Juarez Govern
ment, including a number of Mexicans now
here, regard the latest Mexican news as addi-
tionally encouraging to the cause of the consti-
tutionalists, and speak of the Recommendation
of that party by the Archbishop of Mexico as a
harmless proceeding
There is no foundation for the rumor that
the Secretary of War will resign his seat in the
Cabinet. He hopes soon to return to the per.
formance of his official duties.
Washington, August 22.-The Administra.
ton has bestowed upon the subject of the AT;
rican slave trade its earnest attention, and, with
view of suppressing, as far as possible, this
traffic, has initiated measures more efficient
and extensive than ever before, for that purpose.
The squadron for the coast of Africa, as ar
ranged by the Secretary of the Navy, will con-
SYST of the following named vessels The steam
ers Mystic, Sumter, San Jacinto, and Mohican,
and the sloops Of war Constellation, 1.-THE flag
ship,) Portsmouth, Marion, and Vincennes.
The most efficient officers are assigned to their
command. Those of the steamers Mystic and
Sumter are, respectively, Lieut. w. l.. lie Roy
and Lieut.. j. f. Armstrong. These gentlemen
were, their request, ordered to this service
Their vessels, being of light draft, can pene-
trate waters too shallow for those which have
heretofore been on that coast, besides having
the advantage of steam. Hence, slayers will
be more closely pursued.
The joint treaty with England requires that
the United States shall keep there force of 80
guns, but by the recent arrangement on the
part of the Administration, the number of our
guns will be ll6.
Mr.. Birney, who succeeds Mr.. Morse as naval
storekeeper, went out in the Constellation, with
instructions to remove the naval depot for the
African squadron, from Porto Praya to San
Paul de Loando, which is 336 miles south OF
the Congo river, or about $500 miles distant
from Porto Praya. This new depot will con-
sesuently be much nearer than the former to
the principal points of traffic on the coast, and
will in great measure obviate the necessity OF
long cruises.
On our own coast, too, there is TO be an eff
cient naval force, composed of the steamers
Crusader, Lieut.. Maffit; the Mohawk, Lieut..
Craven; the Wyandotte, Lieut. Stanley and
the Fulton, Commander G. G. Williamson.
They are to cruise in the aeighborhood of Gu
ba, for the purpose of capturing any slavers
which may by their EXPERIENCES escape the Wig
lance of our naval police on the African coast.
These arrangements will soon go into full
operation, and the Secretary of the Navy is now
hurrying the preparation of such of the vessels
as are yet in port for this important service.
The amount of money in the Treasury sub
ject to draft on the week ending August 18th,
was $4,l24,O0O.
1t is understood that the contractor for car
rying the California mails has recently assured
the Post Office Department that his engage
ments will be fulfilled. The Government is
determined that the mails shall be transported
by that route. George Law is said to be the
hacker of the actual contractor, Johnson.
A REPUBLICAN CIRCDLAR.-The Republican
Circular which has found its way into the pub
lie journals, as of the date of August l6, was
in fact issued on the 29th of May, by the Ma
tional Republican Committee, which met al
Albany at that period. The Argus-eyed press
of New York has for once been imposed upon