The Portland daily press., 1863-02-16
BY TELEGRAPH.
TO THE
Portland Daily Press.

tiers to PUBLIC Lands.--Secretary Chase's
Financial Scheme.-From the Army
Of the Potomac.-Frenchu use
OF Negro Soldiers.
WASHINGTON, Feb. IA.
Senator Carlisle to-day introduced bill
providing that the Presidents proclamation,
aiter the popular ratification of the act making
West Virginia State, shall not be issued until
certain counties not under rebel control have
been allowed free and fair opportunity for
| voting upon such Publications., viz: Boone,
Logan, Wyoming, Mercer, Mcdowell, Poca-
honias, Raleigh, Greenbriar, Monroe, Pendle-
| ton, Fayette, Nicholas and Clay.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.
The report of Senator Doolittle, from the
Finance Committee, relative to the possessory
| rights of settlers under the fourth article of
the treaty Of Washington, shows that Massa-
chusetts and Maine, jointly, confirmed by
commission 1892 acres of the land to settlers,
$4,000 acres Of which were the joint property
OF the two States, and l52l the seperate prop
erty OF Maine. The second commission after
Maine had purchased the rights of Massachu-
sets reported for confirming 6S,454 acres
more. Maine Is now willing to quiet the titles
to these lands for an adequate compensation
by the United States, il it is said that these
states have been paid already for these lands
1t is shown that Maine lost 5Ol2 square miles,
or 3,zO1 800 acres OF jurisdiction by the treaty,
and that the cosideration of three hundred
thousand dollars was for such lost territory
north OF the river st. John, and not for the
price Of lands they might lose under the 4th
article. The Committee therefore report in
favor Of quoting those titles at the minimum
price of $l25 per acre.
Much speculation is based on the supposed
views Of the Secretary Of the Treasury, and
these are differently represented, according
TO the various degrees of information or bias,
but the following statement, the result of en-
quiry, Is designed to remove all doubt what
ever upon the subject. The Secretary regards
the passage Of the uniform currency and bank
bill as absolutely essential to the successful
working of the finances. Ii is not true that
he does not expect immediate aid from the
banking bill, though it is true, as stated in his
report, that he does not expect immediate and
great direct aid from 1t. He does, however,
expect great and immediate, though indirect
aid from the rise in the value in United States
bonds, consequent on their being made the
permanent basis for national currency, which
rise will enable him TO negotiate bonds with
out an additional imitation of the currency.
and that through these nations the means may
be provided for all public demands promptly,
while at the same time check will be placed
on the fluctuations and advance in the prices of
the banking bill as virtually necessary TO the
support OF the government and as a conse-
qUence to the most successful prosecution Of
the war, while he believes that its merits as a
meas Ire for the Introduction of a safe stable
currency, uniform in plan and value, through
out the country would require its adoption Tor
the protection of labor, the security of CON-
merce and the perpetuation Of the Union in
the absence of the exigencies created by the
war. The banking bill which has passed the
Senate, and the loan bill, as amended and
passed by that body, do not precisely repre-
sent the views Of the Secretary, but he has
always been ready TO yield his judgment to
that OF the Finance Committee OF the two
Houses, or questions not regarded by him. as
vital, and when unable TO yield on such points
he submits, is overruled. The two bills, as
they have gone to the House, are regarded by
Nun as embodying scheme OF finance which
can be practically and successfully applied, but
each measure Is necessary TO the success Of
the other, and both, therefore, Is constituted
only one. Should the banking bill fail he does
not think the loan bill can he worked out to sue
cessfui results, but that the only practical
course will then be TO increase indefinitely the
issue Of legal tender notes. or TO make loans
BY receiving the issues Of suspended banks,
increased also indefinitely. Either OF these
courses he Is of the opinion will result disas-
trously TO public and private interests.
From Information received from the army
OF the Potomac, 1t appears the rebels are
throwing up breastworks and rife pits north
OF Fredericksburg.
1t must not be Inferred from the absence of
interesting news from the Rappahannock that
the army Is in condition OF ideness. The
abolition OF the grand divisions has thrown
many weighty matters upon the commanding
General and his staff, and the various depart
ments are sednlously engaged, without regard
TO hours, In matters pertaining TO the disci-
pline and consolidation of the army.
Us. Consul General Thayer, at Alexandria,
In writing TO our government, says an event
Of apparent grave Importance had just come
TO light, and produced much excitement in
that community. On the morning of the It'll
OF January, 450 black soldiers from Dalfom
and Unba, were by order of the viceroy of
Egypt taken by railway from the fortfications
OF the Banage, about l20 miles south of Alex
andria, and at night embarked ON board the
French transport steamer La Semi Tor desti-
nation generally understood to be Mexico,
with the object OF aiding the French Emperor
IN his military operations against that country.
These negroes were dressed in Zouave uni
forms, and fully armed. IL is well understood
that The French Emperor has been anxious to
supply the losses which his Mexican army has
suffered from the climate and disease, by the
employment OF blacks, and the vfceroy de-
thitu iuOutii aeO ne WAS ABOUT 10 stnu one
thousand OF his men 10 some place where their
quality might be tested. His Highness, 1t is
known, has always been proud OF his army,
both black and white, the effectiveness of
which, except in rcpulsing the raids OF Bedou-
ms, has not been displayed since the war in the
Crimea, where his men certainly distinguished
themselves as compared with the other Otto
man troops. Our consul says he was awaiting
explanations from the Vicaroy. The Europd
l,n
governments for Instructions, Mr.. Dayton
also briefly communicates similar information
to our government upon the subject, including
the articles from the Moniteur, that the ne
groes TO be furnished by the Viceroy, 900 in
all, are TO garrison Vera Cruz, as a matter of
humanity 70 white soldiers, the black race not
being subject to yellow fever.
From New Orleans Arrest Of Prominent
Citizens-Passage Of q Steamer through
the Vicksburg Canal.
New YORK, Feb. IA
The steamer Empire City, Capt. Baxter,
with intelligence from New Orleans to the
4th inst, arrived here at 10 o'clock this eve
ming.
The forces of Gen. Banks, after a months
drilling, were in condition to take the field
and II was thought that a forward movement
would be made at once to clear the rebels out
Of Lafourche county.
On the night of the 30ht ult a fishing smack,
containing three Jews, was seized on the lake.
1t was bound to Ponchatoula, and had on board
large quantity OF medicines for the rebels,