The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-04-05
WASHINGTON NEWS

THE CHARGES AGAINST THE ADMIN1sTRATIoN-TH
OCEAN MAIL SERvICE-THE CAPTURE OF THE Mex
1CAN STEAMERs-MI MISCELLANEOUS.
Mr.. Butterworth was to-day examined before
Covodes committee He was asked if he contribu-
ted any money to the election of Mr. Buchanan,
and if so, how much? He stated that he had given
five hundred dollars to secure his (Mr. Buchanan's)
election, because he believed the success of the
Democratic party essential to the good govern
ment of the nation. He gave his money to prevent
the election of Fremont, whom he regarded as
mere adventurer, whose election would have been
proof positive of the incapacity of the American
people for selfgovernment. He was then asked by
the committee If he was not retained in his office
In consequence of an agreement with the President
that he would sustain the Lecompton constitution?
10 this he replied that he regarded the question
as impertnent, but that no improper inference
might be drawn from his refusal to answer he
stated he held his office by no such tenure-that
neither the President nor any other man would
venture to make such proposition to him-that he
retained his position superintendent of the ASSAY
Office at the request of the President and with
out condition or stipulation of any kind what
ever. In reply to query whether he had not
urged Haskin by letter to support the Lecompton
measure he replied that he regarded all correspon-
dence private, but if Haskin would file his MIR
Butterworths )letters with the committee he would
file the answers of Haskin, and the correspondence
would fully answer the question. The committee
stated they would give him an answer tomorrow
this point. If this offer is accepted some rich
developments will be made as to the causes which
LecOmDtOQ,
Butterworth's examination shows that the number
OF employees at the Assay Office has ALWAYS been
regulated by the amount of business to be DONE
A diminution of business has always been followed
py dlmlnutlon OF force, and that wastage of the
ofhce was one hundred and ninety-one thousand
dollars less than the law allowed. Collector Schell
was then examined. The committee asked him if
he persisted in Withholding the names of contribu-
TORS and If he was aware of the power which the
committee had under the resolution? He replied
that he was, and that the committee had no right
to ask questions pertaining to private matters
After propounding few other questions not per-
tinent to the examination, the committee dis
charged him, and asked him whether he intended
to remain a few days, as his presence might
be further required. He replied that he
would remain e. here until after the meeting
OF the National Committee, on Thursday next
Mr.. Cochrane appeared before the House Post-of-
flee Committee this morning, in advocacy general
ly OF government assistance to mail steamers, and
particularly of a line of steamers to ply between
Mobile or New Orleans and various Mexican ports
on the Gulf. He alluded to the dwarfed commerce
of the United States with Mexico, in comparison
with that of England Out of ffty-four millions of
dollars of Mexican commercial exchange the United
States having but eight millions, to England's
thirtythree millions. He showed that even Of this
the imports of Mexico to the United States are
greater than are the exports to Mexico by about
two millions of dollars, the average consumption
OF imports throughout Spanish America being six
dollars per head, he argued that a corresponding
Bile her imports.-The correspondence which
passed between Captain Jarvis and the Spanish
and French naval officers at Vera Cruz after the
capture of Miramon' vessels, has been received by
the government, and was read in Cabinet council
to-day. 1t is not only impertinent but offensive:
and for this reason Captain Jarvis informed
them that he could have no further communi-
cation with them, but if they desired to enter
into discussion concerning the bearing of the
law of nations in the premises, he would
refer them to the home government, where they
would obtain all the information reuuired.-
The Government have received no intimaton of
any character from either the Spanish, French or
English Ministers concerning the affair at Vera
Cruz, and it is not very probable that they will
NO action has yet been taken by Government in
regard to the prisoners captured with the steam
ers. The State and Navy Department disclaim
any further responsibility, and consider the cues
ton as entirely in the hands of the Judiciary
Attorney-General Black has been engaged in Court
and has not been able to examine the important
legal points which are involved The Admins
traton would feel obliged to the prisoners if they
would escape and save heavy cost which is now
leans.-The House Post-Oflice Committee have
nearly unanimously agreed to recommend the re-
storaton OF the mail to the steamship Isabel, and
the Committee of Ways and Means WILL there is
niue II any doubt, report an appropriation of
fifty thousand dollars per annum for her mall ser
wise between Charleston and Key West, in addi-
ton to the ocean postage between Havana and
key West.-An old man by the name of Walker
from Vermont, has arrived here, and has called
upon the Chairman of the Harper's Ferry Com
mttee, and informed him that he is in possession
OF important facts connected with that affair, and
IS DESTROYS of being subpenaed before them The
Committee will probably give the old man an op-
portunity of telling all he knows-If the pro-
posed amendments to the Pacific Telegraph be
adopted by the House, there is reason to believe
that the line will not be built for years to come
as the capital to insnre its construction will not
De supplied. 1t will cost, probably, from eight
md IN IN
large sums annually to keep it in repair.
IMPORTANT COMMERCIAL CASE WHAT
CONSTITUTES A DELIVERY OF GOODS?
In the Supreme Court of the United States, De-
cember, 1859, the case of Charles Richardson ct a
claimants OF the bark Tangier appellants, David
GODDARD, ct al, was decided. The Court saw
Where the bark Tangier had arrived in the harbor
OF Boston the 9Th of April, with a cargo of cot
ton, and commenced to discharge her cargo on
Monday, the 18th, and on the same day the master
gave the consignees notice of her readiness to de-
liver, and the wharf was filled with the bales
which were not taken away by the consignees; a
second notice was given on Tuesday, the Sth to
the consignees, and on Wednesday morning third
notice. On Thursday the remaining bales were
unladen and placed on the wharf, the consignees
carted away five bales, and postponed taking the
rest until next day, assigning as a reason that
Thursday was East Day" by public proclamation
and In the afternoon of that day the cotton re-
naming on the wharf was consumed by an acct
dental fire. Held, reversing the decree of the Cir
cult Court, that the delivery was a good delivery
to the cOnsignees, and that the loss by fire could
not be imposed upon the bark. 2. A carrier by
water carries from port to port or from wharf to
wharf, and is not bound to deliver at the ware
house of the consgnee; and it is the duty of the
consgnee to receive the goods cut of the ship, or
on the wharf; but to constitute valid delivery the
carrier must give due and reasonable notice to the
conslgnee so as to afford him fair opportunity of
removing the goods or placing them in safe custody
In the port OF Boston there is no general custom
usage engrafted into the maritime law, and max
ing part thereof, which forbids the unading of
vessels and a tender of freight to the consignees
on the day set apart for church festival fast or
holiday. As to usage in of this kind in refe-
renee to holidays, the Court said: Does the testi-
mony IN this case show that, from time immemori-
al, there has been we'll known usage HAVING the
force and effect of law in Boston, which requires
all men to cease from labor, and compels vessels
engaged IN foreign commerce to cease from dis
charging their cargoes, and hinder consipnees
from receiving them? We do not know this fact
udclaly, for Except in this CASEY there is no Judi
clal declslon or course of decisions, in Massachu-
sets which establishes the doctrine that carriers
must cease to discharge cargo this day in the
port OF Boston, but rather the contrary And after
careful examination of the testimony. we are
compelled TO say that we find no sufficient evidence
OF such peculiar custom in Boston, differing from
that OF all other commercial cities in the orld-
The testimony shows this, and more: that some
persons go to church on that day; some close the
windows OF their warehouses and shops, and either
half the day, and some not at all. Public officers
schoolboys, apprentices clerks and others who live
on salaries, or prefer pleasure to business, claim
the privilege of holiday while those who depend
on their daily labor for their daily bread and can
not afford to be idle, pursue their occupations as
usual. The libellants appear to have had no
conscientious scruples the subject, as they
received goods from other ships, and some from
this.
NICE LEGAL QUEsuoN.-Our latest New Or
leans papers contain telegraphic despatch sent
from Washington city, which speaks as follows in
relation to the steamers our navy has captured in
the waters of Mexico: 'The prizes and prison
ers taken off Vera Cruz likely to create some
embarrassment. The statute provides for the dis
tributon of prizes among the officers and men who
were the captors, but the question of these being
such must first be decided in Court of Admiralty
The Navy Department treats Marin's expedition as
pratica but that fact has to be legally established
The whole ground of this assumption rests upon
the allegation that when the Indianoa approached
Marin's steamer, after shot had been fred ahead
to bring her to, and hailing, it was answered by
volley of musketry. The Indianola and Wave were
small steamers, belonging to Juarez and known to
be such to Marin. He could hardly suppose that
American officers and were participating in
the civil war with Mexico, and doubtless intended
to treat them as part of the hostile armament of
Juarez.
SENTENCE AN ENGLISH CAPTAIN AND MATE FOR
KILLING AN APPRENTICE.-The London papers con-
tain an account of the trial at New Zealand of Cant
Straker and Mr.. Charles Straker, (brothers) first
officer of the English ship Snaresbrook for the
murder of an apprentice, by systematic course of
81 & Al,