The New York herald., 1864-12-24
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.
wAa.xoroS, Dec. %, 1854

yMANcIAL MATHIS.
orders have ssen issued 70 the various national depos
tasss not recsve subscriptions 70 the tenory
after the Slss q December inst.
me financial circle here, including several hitherto
large buyers Of securities attribute the de-
precoo Of them 70 the policy pursued BY the Secretary
Of the Treasury, which eogenderng dsrust n the
feet faith Of 10 government In regard 70 ~ financial
promises The desire manifested 70 postpone
dsosos IN regard 70 the character Of tho old thirty
notes has contributed greatly 20 this abatement OF oopn
Asnos and isdeng much injury 70 the public credit
tAan win DO compensated for BY the successul avoidance
Of payment n coin Of the whole amount Of these no,ss
now outstanding.
THE TAX ON wHIsKgY.
The whiskey bill passed BY Congress, lsvyng the In
creased duty The LIST Of January has ye signed
By the President.
THE VACANT YRsNCH MISSION.
There are already over nity gentlemen pressed upon
the Prssds0s for n0mnation the French mis-.
sion. Il 10 Understood to-day that Mr.. Raymond viii
probably be ovsrsaughsd che friends OF the other
candidates mako common against him. Is repuda.
sion Of any desire for expectation the appointment
ID regarded snly preparing soft place " fall on
CAPTURE o. DLooKAps RUNNsa, wIrH CARGO
OF MUNITIONS OF wAR-sHARY WORK OF rHH
BLOCKADE sQUADR0N.
Bear Admiral Porter under date or ths lSth insl IN
ons the Navy Department Of the destruction Of the
bkaas runner Pstse which was driven asAors q New
nss, Caps ssas rvtr ahs shss Arsd upsa sad sau
md nasy totally Destroyed ~ ths soShsass sals
sAehad on beard arss cargo o1 arms 80 miticna oe
war, an q which Was loss.
days Gs nsss has captured dsssrsysG ave iiods ave
hssarsA hsasaod Assass worth q Ahs sssny's propssy
10 blodads runsefs, shout two.shirds Of whish covers
captured properly.
TEE PREMATURE PUBLICATIONS. CONCERNING But
LRR's AND PoRrRR's ExrBDIrIoN.
me Navy and War Deparsmsals engaged IN ferret.
ing ths authors q Ne seatrabAnA pOcatna ths
intended operations against Wilmington, end y under
stood have svdsses 70 fassn that para Of n rsrenos
ssal ysass essssses1 wssA ~ pFu fhess pes1aluse
puboasons have 10 feared, Sorswarssd ne rsbsi en-
thoriss anA account for the rsappsarsnos OF Bragg 1
the threatened point, and may cause much larger
r6ce Of us 70 accomplish the objects the expedition
than would Otherwise have been necessary. Il under.
stood that examples are to bs made Of The offending
parties IN the hope that may prevent similar prsma
ture and Injurious publications Of important military and
naval movements 10 the future.
ACTIVITY or GUBRILLAs ON rHD UPPER PoroMAc--
RouT OF A BAND ON TIE MANASSAS RAILRoAD.
Early this morning . party OF gusrillas Of Whites
command, attempted crossing TO the Maryland shore
By the pcksts Of the First New Hampshire cavalry and
driven back. One guerilla was shot dead Major
Andrews. whs commanded al the point, h In osghtly
expectation Of raids the canal and river frozen
and has accordinGly strengthened biz picket line.
Several days sso portion Of cavalry sccutsa as far
up White Plains, the Manassas Gap Railroad, and
coming up 70 large party Of guerias tight snsued.
The latter were routed. with loss Of major.
isutsnan mortaly wounded and Atsen prisoners taken
By our troops.
FIRE IN TEE WAR DEPARTMENT BUrLDIno.
There was lively time at the war Departments to-day
for while. Ore caught In the ceiling the chief
clerks once In the third story. 10 the room immedl
aely overhead stored the most valuable papers and
records OF the department, and for time was feared
that many Of these would DO destroyed. Ths fire vas
after considerable trouble and the docu
msais preserved uninjured The nro was caused by
detective nue.
THa CASE or COLONEL NORTH.
She North again postponed this morning until
Monday account Of the absence OF witnesses for the
--osecution. The witnesses for the defence gere In At
tendance e.. F.'t & &..,..
TnE CASE or COLONEL BAKER-AN IMPORTANT
LEGAL OPINION.
The charge 10 the jury In the OF Colonel Baker
chief detective or the war Department indicted for the
fase Imprisonment or DR.. Gwynne, was delivered by
Chief Justice Carter OF the supreme Court OF tns oc
all the Judges Of which appointed BY Mr.. Lincoln.
II was In substance, that the accused had no right to
mako the without written warrant to do SO from
the President Of the United States and that the order Of
neither the Secretary Of War the Secretary of the
Treasury sufficient 70 authorize the arrest the
authority issue such warrants belongs exclusively 90
the President and cannot DO delegated 70 any subor
dinate.
DETAILED soLDHss TO BE SENT TO THE yIELD.
An examining board Is in session. TO examine officers
and men on detailed service here All who are at for duty
sent TO the field. The hospitals also being
inspected and large accessons expected the active
force from these In view Of tho active winter
campaign which has beeu determined upou is essen
al that every soldier nt for duty should bs where be
can be made most available
psArH or ACTING MASTER cHARLss THATCHER,
u. 9. n.
The Navy Department to-day received intelligence Of
tbe death Of Aotpr Master Charles Thatcher OF Name