The New York herald., 1863-12-11

thy been dismissed and the same VIM
be promptly applied TO ALL Of whatever grade, 10 whom
public duty may require it's application.
by An order OF the Secretary OF War issued tho as
OF october last the care Of abandoned plantations ana
othef real estate mas been devoved the supervising
agents, who have been instructed 10 accept charge
aud their best endeavors in its execution Tho charge
OF abandoned lands and plan necessarily carries
with 1t, TO some extent the charge OF freedmen
Tho whole charge at present under military sanctoa
only for the acts OF Congress CONCERNING abandoned
perty relate exclusively 10 personally The order s a
too recent date TO allow receipts OF reports concerning
should be adopted and steadily pursued which viii bess
the great objects OF restoring tranquility and
prosperity to the States and parts OF States 10 which
the national authority Is or may be reeatabloed and
al the same time securing the rights and welfare
Of the loyal and enfranchsed people To these results
the abors or the Commissioners OF Direct Taxes as wek
judicial action under the acts relating TO conscaoa
largely contribute. Already under tho sales for
direct South Carolina nsderable properties
divided into small tracts have passed into loyal poses
sion. and are cultivated successfully by the labor Of
freedmen In this connection the Secretary asks permits
Sion TO repeat suggestion heretofore madehat tho pro
ceeds OF cotton raised by the freedmen before emancpa
ton and collected from those properties should be
raised it, The whole subject will doubtless command
tho attentive consideration OF Congress.
THE DRAFT COMPUTATION MONEY.
The important and responsible duty OF securing ADD
keeping under the direction OF the President and War Do
partment, Communication money from drafted citizeas
has been assumed BY the collectors OF internal
revenue, at the instance OF the Secretary OF War.
In the judgment OF the Secretary Of the Treasury.
this money should be paid directly into tho Treasury,
aud drawn out upon requsitions for the purposes =
which II s appropriated by Congress. The Secro-
ary Of War thought however that the other mode o.
collection and would be less .
drafted and for the sub
sttutes His wishes were promptly complied with, and
the whole matter is now submitted to Congress.
THH FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC COhKROE or ra1
UNITED STATES.
Snde. q resolution Of the Senate, adopted on tes
18th Of March last, the Secretary has takon mea-
sres fo- the preparation OF the fullest statement possible
with existing means Of information, Of the foreign ana
domestic commerce OF the United States including thAk
OF the Pacific coast The learning and ability the gea
temeu employed in this work warrant the expectation
that yery instructive account will DO obtained Of
condition and prospects OF foreign from
and to the Atlantic aud Pacific coasts we'll overland
northward southwark and Of our Internal and Intes
rebel States and between the bread producing gold
aud silver producing districts Of our country The ma
must be sought IN reports Of State commissioners
of statistics, Of boards Of Grade, OF railroad
and canal companies, and occasional or periodical
publications relating TO trade and business. Thia
is department OF statistics comparatively and ain.
cult OF exploration but no pains will be spared Ia tha
search. in the hope Of being able submit TO Congress
result OF Insignificant value 10 the business comnuu
administration which win itself suggest the action
involved"
Under the sanction OF the acts relating the sub,e
the secretary has taken preparing print
fractional currency bonds notes in the Treasury
Department, with degree OF which already
decided economical advantages. aud warrants The
expectation OF satisfactory results.
The secretary already invited the reports
OF tho Register, the Comptrollers, and the several
Auditors
The Report on Commerce aud Navigation for tho Ascai
year 1862. prepared in the Registers Office, has beea
greatly delayed by explained in his report The
report for ee fiscal 1865 also nearly roady,
aud will he sent TO Congress within the month N
important Information will be found much betles cas-
sied ana arranged and much more clearly stated end
The Secretary suggests that it will promote tho interests
OF commerce aud expedite future reports provision be
made for the monthly at least semi annual phbl,car
tt)u o. the returns oil imports aud exports
THE COMpTROLLER AND AUDITOR BUREAUS.
The suggestion OF the Second Comptroller tho gala
res the Offices of the Comptrolers should DO higher
than those OF tho Auditors that prootos sh0ulAe
take place trom the latter to the former respectfully
commended TO legislative consideration II saucooed "
law will doubtless promote accuracy and promptitudo
IN tue revision OF accounts.
The expenditures Of the war 10 life and treasurs
have deyolved unexpected abOrs the Auditors' bu.
rea aud especially those the Second and Third
dors and the difficulties attendant organseat,oa
OF proper force for the settlement Of the suddenly
mulated accounts have caused delays, which ths
most strenuous efforts have been made in vain 10 avoid
hoped however that tho accumulation will now -
arrested, aid hencoiorth steadily reduced The Secreta
made oy which officers OF the department may bs -
ab'ed TO attend the armies and collect Information anA
especially regard 70 the wounded. tho missing and
tue killed which win facilitate the promptest sctemsal
OF the claims made in behalf Of destitute families ana
widows and orphans. -.
rHk FRAUDS ON THE NEW YORK CUSTOM HOUSE.
The report OF the Solicitor will exhibit tho action a
that officer in the investigation OF frauds pefpetsssed b.
certain persons formerly employed 10 the New York C.
tom House The LEGISLATION OF last session, tho promVs
dismissal of the guilty parties yet remaining oce al
the measures OF prevention devised and adopted wilt "
believed sufficiently protect the against W.
repetition Of these the commission OF like FRAUDS
PURCHASE OF TnF MERCHANTS EXCHANGE. 81
The Secretary renews the recommendation submitted n
bs las, report Of the purchase Of the Merchants Ex
change IN New York. occupied le.ss AZ a Gus
tom house
THE COAST SURVEY.
The operations OF the Coast Survey have beea d,tta
gJshed by than activity On the North
the work has been vigorously prosecuted.
not auding the existence OF the war white m COM
with aDDliCltiODs nd nj
uiaader3 parties have been detailed Tor work on the
Southern coast the rivers Of the inferior and indeed
wherever their services could be made available From
these iabos OF importance cordially ACKNOWLEDGED By
the oocrs 70 whom they have beeo rendered. the value
~ the survey and the merits OF those By whom cou
Quoted receive fresh illustration.
THE SEIZURE or THE REVENUE CUTTER IN PoarLAao
HARBOR.
During the las: summer a number o. rcte,s ran into
Portland harbor 10 the night aud sezed the
ter lying there, ts commanding ofhcer being SICK oe
shore and portion Of the absent leave 1tev
succeeded in leaving the harbor unobserved eay u
tue morning the Collector OF the Port hearing OF the
affair took instant measures for pursuit by ohartcring
two passenger steamers arminp them with Wbatevcs
rDuld be most promptly obtained, and providing
resssry force OF volunteers citizens and soldiers. In
rze after setting her fire and being themscvo
prisoners. Inc value OF this capture best be cst,.
same rebels 10 the Tacouy, q vessel every way
nfecIor to the one they had seized. The Secretary
deeply regrets that the Collector longer lives 10 read
hs acknowledgment OF his prompt, energetic aud jude
,i,us acton.
HsPECrfON or STEAM VESSELS
Tue report OF the Board OF Supervising Inspectors Of
team vessels to whose supervision Congress wisely
committed the employment OF steam wstor ransports-
)o Is herewith transmitted. The importance OF IL
'cton may be inferred from tho simple statement thas
here have been inspected during the past year 0 steA
'esseis valued at N0l ,067 900. with aggregate
onDage Of 405 900 tons which have carried for shorter
longer distances 900 passengers The Secretary
invites attention 10 the suggestion Of safe system a
signals by sounds and lights adapted TO tho Of steam
'esse whether in the merchant national service and
vhich may, perhaps be extended so a. to embrace sail
na vessels also. Such signals, understood by all,
nj sht many disasters and thc means OF many
'enents without at all interfering with any peculiar sys
en- required Tor special communication between vcs5sis
v the navy.
SALE OF HOSPITAL BUILDINGS.
Tho secretary renews the recommcn tation Of hs iass
eport, that authority be given TO sell the buiiiinxp
rcctcd but not needed used for hospitals and aiso
uch other buildings unoccup,ed required FOE
he objects Of their intended purposes
LIGHTHOUSE BUREAU.
The operations under tho charge OF the Lighihouaa
bureau have been satsactorily prosecuted during the
ear The Cape Charles lighthouse at the cotranee of
beSapeake bay, destroyed by guerillas In Augst
it It's reconstruction s OF great importance 20 com
eroe and should be Immediately authorized and pro
iIaiT Tnr