The New York herald., 1862-01-05
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.

NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, Jan. A, 1862
t HEALTH OF GEN. MCCLELLAN.
Gen. Mcclellan Is better to day than he yesterday
He sat up nearly all the forenoon The fever has left
him, and he is>now recovering his strength
IMPORTANT LETTER FROM SECRETARY CHAsE-THE
DUTIES ON TEA, COFFEE AND SUGAR.
The following letter has been addressed to Hon. W. p
Fessenden Chairman of the Committee on Commerce Of
the Senate and Hon. haddeus Stevens Chairman Of the
Committee on Ways and Means of the House,
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Jan. 8, 1862
SR-The act OF Congress passed on the 26h OF Decem
be 1861 directing that from and after the date of its
passage certain duties, lieu OF duties before i'm
posed, should be levied, collected and paid on tea
coneo and sugar, imported from foreign Countries,
did exempt from its operation tea coffee and
imported and warehoused and therefore regarded by
direction to collect tho duties prescribed on all
such mportations without exception, and instructions
were issued to the collector, accordingly.
beg leave to direct your attention to the fact that
where goods imported have been placed in warehouses;
under the law and departmental regulations the amount
OF duties has in each been estimated though not
levied, by the naval officer and bond has been taken
by tho collector, in doubt Of the amount Of the
dutyathus estimated, for their payment and there is
general opinion among merchants that tho faith Of the
is engaged for the delivery of such goods to
the merchants payment Of the duties imposed by law
at the time Of the warehousng. Whether this opinion
.'be absolutely well founded not, there is certainly
something in the nature Of the transaction which sup
ports it, 1t is my duty, doubtless, to execute the law
II Is written out.
beg leave, in view Of this opinion Of the importing
merchants respectfully to suggest the propety of the
adoption OF joint resolution directing the Secretary Of
the Treasury to permit warehoused goods to be with
drawn payment Of the duties imposed by the act Of
August @ 1861 and refund any Of duties above
those thus imposed which may have been collected on
goods already withdrawn. With great respect,
S. +. CHASE, Secretary OF the Treasury.
REPORTED TREASON IN THE HOUSEHOLDS OF OFF,
GALS.
Facts fast developing themsolvcs which show that
while we have been employing the money and energy of
tho loyal people OF the United States to repulse the
CANT horde of rebels who have arrayed themselves in
battle against the government within sight of the Capt.
tol being hached in tho very households
officials. Our streets are filled with the most painful
rumors Of the discovery Of traitors in place where the
breath of suspicion should lot ret This discovery also
calls up afresh facts that time discovered
The present is serious one, too serious to be al
lowed TO pass without public exposure and public
execution. In both Of these alluded
figures as the chief oflonder.
GENERAL BuRNslDEs EXPEDITION.
Tho vessels Of General Burnsides feet were inspected
to-day General Porter and Colonel acket by order Of
General Mcclellan. They report the accommodations
ample, and arrangements excellent for the transportation
of troops in the feet. General Burnsdes wore
paid or yesterday and to-day Seven hundred thousand
dollars dsbursod three fourhs Of which was sent
home to the soldiers families
THE MILITARY DEP ARTMENr OF NEW ENGLAND.
The creation OF q military department, some time
pontment Of General Butler to command it, made quite
sensation in OF those States and especially in Mas
sachusetls md more especially in Boston, the hub
the universe" When this department was created.
done for patriotic purpose the details Of which
am not at liberty to mention They not known
20 Governor Andrew yet who would do very well tho
Governor Of Massachusetts,, if not for his pri
vate secretary the initiative Browne, who rcoic,s tho
cognomcn Of Lieutenant CoIonc but who unfortunately
for the country yet handled any other weapon than
brick, during the so called Burns Riot"
General Eutler took charge Of Tic department and had
seen too much real service in the cncmys country
was too much Of gentleman, TO allow himself TO be
impotcy ntcrfered with by subordinate officer OF tho
army cvcn much less by Governor Andrews messenger
Tho result that General Butler resisted in bis
attempt TO raise the for his expedition Messenger
Browne, representing Governor Andrew refused to
mission the officers elected BY General Bor's regi
ments. Governor Andrew sustained his messenger and
refused aIso Butler appealed to the President and
the latter assured General Butler that ho should
be sustained, rogrctting at the time that there
should be any conflict betwecn the federal government.
and the Commonwealth Of Massachusetts,. General
Butler ing his orders from tho President of the United
States, did net hesitate to proceed with the organization
Of his expedition, leaving Governor Andrew fight
the matter with the fedora! government. To Gay an
order has bcca issued for all regiments now in New
England and that have yet reported for duty do so
toGenera Butler at Boston, who is requrcdto order their
inspection forthwith. This will produce a compl
cation between Governor Andrew and the federal GO
vernment Already the Governor has forwarded several
elaborate communications the Senators and some of the
representatives from Massachusetts, protesting against
Gen. Butlers mode OF doing business and appealing to
the federal government to interfere. The quarrel in
which Gen. Butler takes part stil pending While
the subject of Gov. Andrew, reminded that his
Excellcncy, who severely rcprimanded Gen. Stone
ong since for compelling Massachusetts, troops as Gov
Andrew aced) to return frg tive slaves has received
scorching reply from Gen. stone which of the
friends Of the latter have asked the Governor pubsh
but thus far Gov. Andrew has declined Tho whole affair
Is very rich, and will be made public, although an
effort Is making to hush Tie matter up
PRESENTATION OF coLoRs TO THE rESNsyLvANIA
REGIMENTS.
Tho usual State colors be presented the Peansy
vania regiments forming General Jamesons brigade
were presented yesterday afternoon, at the parade
ground beyond Alexandria. Those for the Sixty third
regiment, Colonel Hays and the One Hundred and Ffth
Colonel Mcknight, presented by tho Hon. James A.
Morehead member Of Congress from the Pittsburg dis
trict Colonel Mcknight, in handsome speech,
ceyed the coors behalf Of his regiment and Captain
Reed behalf Of the sxtythird Those for the Sixty
FIRST regiment, Colonel Rppy and the Ninety ninth, Col
Swceny, presented by the Hon. II. d. Wright,
Der Of Congress from Pennsylvania. The Hon. Gaiusha A.
Grow Speaker Of the House Representatives present
cd state flag to the Eight eighth Pennsylvania rcg
mont Col Mclean, which has been stationed In Aexan
dria for onths past At there regiment
a parade through tho streets Of Alexandria and at
O'Clock the ceremony attending the presentation took
nncn the landannricrs cnrnor Of rrnca and Royal