New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-01-01
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WASHINGTON, Monday, Dec. 81, 1860.
MAJOR ANDERsON's ACTION.
Gen. Scott has addressed letter to Major
Anderson, through the War Department, approx
ing his conduct. The official censure conveyed
in the dispatches will be very materially miti-
gated by this important crumb Of comfort.
SENATOR BENJAsuS's SPEECH.
Mr.. Benjamin's speech was listened to BY
vast audience, who vociferously applauded the
close. and were turned out of the galleries in
consequence. But the fun was over, and they
did not care. Some Of the declaration Of Mr..
BENJAMIN were most significant, and prodgced
the most painful impressions. }. p.
WASHINGTON, Monday, Dec 81, 1860.
THE GREAT ROBBERY.
The Committee of investigation on the great
robbery will not 60 TO New-York as anticipated,
as there is reason to believe the bonds have
passed from the hands of the parties with whom
they were hypothecated into others, either for
conceament or by actual sale. They cannot be
legally followed when possessed by innocent ana
bona: fde purchasers, any more than bank notes.
The laundering ignorance of the Department
left the Government without any protection
whatever.
THE TRADE WITH CHARLESTON.
So far as cOasting vessels are concerned the
trade with Charleston may not be seriously IN
terrupted as they all sail under licenses running
one year. AT the expiration OF that time, they
will be apt TO find another state of things. Ev-
cry irregular clearance for foreign port sub
ects the vessel bearing 1t to seizure aud libel.
for which the Custom House officers viii look
out. as they share in the distribution of the
proceeds.
GENERAL CAss.
General Cass will return to Detroit in fort
night, leaving his household here till Spring. His
absence from Washington will be much regretted.
MIR LNcoLn.s INAUGURATION.
General Scott intends to he present and assist,
officially, at Mr.. Lincoln's Inauguration, and will
give the prestige Of bis name and character to
the becoming Observances of that occasion. The
threats which are are now foolishly circulated BY
reckless presses, disregarded here. The
people of Washington will take care to preserve
order, and to protect themselves against rufhan-
ism, from whatever quarter, and if volunteers to
defend the laws are needed, there viii be plenty
on the spot.
MR.. RUssEIL's BAIL.
Mr.. Wendell offers to bond Mr., Russell for
$4,000 If the printing office job be carried,
he can afford that triae aud little more with
out affecting the various interests concerned III
it, aud which may yet be oyerhauled.
RUSSELL, MAJORS wADDELL's CONTRACT,
Ecia Ia fnr fhe
General, itappears that Russell, Majors & Waddel
received, from April to October S275, 900 for
services under their transportation contract, and
between 900 and $4,000 per month since
then. They received the money as fast as the
service was performed, and consequently, there
was no outstanding claims Of this sort, upon
which drafts could probably be made. The inya-
riable practice had been for the Quariermaster
to send out bills of lading of the merchandise
transported for Government say from Leayen-
worth to Salt Lake or Camp Floyd, which were ex
amined there and returned ~ Leayenworih with 90
account of breakages and the like. Then the
Quartermaster paid the contractors on the spot,
and their receipt and the bills of ladng were
the vouchers, BY which his accounts were ad-
justed here. Mr. Floyd changed all this, and
had these settlements made in Washington under
his own eye and direction, aud thus became
established the personal relations with these con-
Tractors, which have excited so much comment
since the boguswar in Utahbegsn. tits known that
large extra allowances were frequently made to
Russell's concern, and it will be officially estab-
ished that notice was served on the War De-
partment of payments exceeding $4,000 being
made twice over for the same service, with
view of having this sum retained for future pay
ments, which never was done.
ANOTHER swINpLE.
An act was smuggled through Congress last
session, authorizing the Secretary of War to re-
open the claim of the estate Of George Fisher OF
Florida, for alleged losses by the Government,
which will now probably be repealed. Two years
ago relief law was passed, when the accounting
officers investigated and found the claim to have
been more than paid before. Still, S39, 900 were
allowed by Mr.. Floyd, who had the discretion 10
settle it. Under the revisssy act of last session.
he allowed 500, 600 more, payment Of which was
fortunately stopped BY the condition Of ths
Treasury. Information has been obtained, stsuns
that the first allowance was neser rettrned W
the estate at all, and the heirs were s'densor'cs
to stop the last when the subject ~ caheu
back TO Conprcss This is another edition ot ne
De Groot operation in the same Departments,
allowing $4,000, which will be insestigs'eo
with other matters in Mr.. Floyd's Department
TIE COMMITTEE OF TnwTy-THRhs.
III, C...,..;,,oo &c Tbirty-three met today, bnt