The Portland daily press., 1864-03-19

WASHINGTON, March Is.
bill was passed by the House to-day pro-
viding for facilitating entries by soldiers under
the homestead law, which enables them to take
oath before military officers instead of before
land officers, etc.
The House Committee on Commerce have
agreed on and ordered TO be reported when
the Committee shall be called on, a joint reso
luton authorizing and requiring the Presi-
dent to give notice to the government OF
Great Britain that it is the intention Of the
government OF the United States to terminate
the reciprocity treaty made with Great Brit
ain for the British North American provinces,
at the end of II months from the expiration of
ten years from the time the treaty went into
operation, viz: in September, 1854, to the end
that the treaty may be abrogated as soon as
it can be done under the provisions thereof,
unless new convention shall be before that
time concluded between the two governments,
+ by which the previous one shall be abrogated
or so modified as to be eventually satisfa Glory
to both governments.
The great case of Nordello and ais. against
Gray and ais, will come up for argument be-
fore the Supreme Court on Monday, on the
cross writs of error from the California Cir
cult Court. The action is ejectment. The
heirs of Gray claim an immense amount of
valuable land in the business part Of San
Francisco. Ten years ago the estate was APP
praised in the Probate Court there ut over
quarter of million of dollars. The litiga-
ton in regard to it has continued ten years.
=. G. Gulpin, of New York, will argue the
case for the heirs and James M. Carlisle, of
Washington, for the present owners.
A report from Solicitor Whiting, embodies
the opinions of Caleb Cushing, Judge Nc
Lean, Mr.. Crittenden, and Attorney General
Bates to the effect that the title of Rock Isl
and, ILL.,, remains vested in the United States,
except 1913 acres decided by special act of Con-
gress, to Davenport 81 Sons, and Is acres
claimed by the Rock Island X. Il. Co., which
leaves 900 acres still under the control of the
War department. The Solicitor suggests
that the entire island may be taken by right
of eminent domain.
The Senate in executive session to-day con-
frmed several hundred promotions of officers
of the regular army and navy; among them
were the following in the marine corps: Capt
Shuttleworth, to be Major; Lieut.. Houston,
to be Captain; Second Lieut.. Robert 0. n.
Ford, to be LIST. Lieut., and Israel Washburn,
OF Maine, TO be I'd Lieut.. Capt. w. 5. Han
cock was confirmed as Quartermaster, with
the rank of Major, vice, Belger, removed
Charles Green was confirmed as a Captain in
the navy, and Asaph Hall, of Mass, and w.
Hardness, to be Professors of Mathematics in
the navy. NJ. b. Field, of New York, was
Treasury; ex-Congressman J. +. Potter, of
Wisconsin, as direct Tax Commissioner tor
Florida l.. V. Provost, of Maryland, Consul
at Guayajail; VIM. B. Byers, as Deputy Post
master of Denver City. w. ID. Wheeler, of
Mass, with others, was confirmed as addition
al Paymasters.
Col. Taylor, Chief of Staff of the headquar-
tiers of the Department of Washington, ad-
dressed letter to Corp. Waynor, of the 1ss
Michigan cavalry, saying THE Major Gen
eraI of this Department desires me to thank
you for the gallant aud solderly conduct by
which you liberated yourself and comrade
whilst disarmed while in the hands of the
armed guerrillas. The same manly spirit and
action shown by you, if manifested by your
comrades, would rid the department of the
predatory bands calling themselves Confeder-
ate soldiers" This refers to an occurrence
which took place on Wednesday. Waynor
and companion were captured near Mum
sons Hill by four guerrillas, and taken into
the woods. Watching their opportunity, they
seized the guns of the two guards, shot them
both and escaped. One of the slain was a
rebel lieutenant.
The amendments of the Senate TO the mail
bill, passed in that branch to-day, repeats the
act of August, 1852, authorizing the convey
ance of letters otherwise than by mail, except
money letters and accompanying packages,