The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-05-03

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TRIALS BY MILITARY COURT!
AND COMMISSIONS.
FaS2acsi2eg the National Debt
STATEMENT OF THE PUBLIC DEBT
| s 3 WASHINGTON, MAY g.
| The bill passed by the House in regard t.
| emigrant vessels, provides that no one but Off
| GERS of the customs, military officers and emi
| grant agents appointed by the law shall go or
board the vessels; that all male passengers o
II years and upward, who do not occupy berthS
| with their wives, shall be berthed in the fore
part OF the ship; prohibits bringing convicts to
this country; requires carrying disinfectants
requires naval surveyors to designate the mum
ber each vessel may carry, and give certificates
establishes in Boston, Chicago, New Orleans
San Francisco, Baltimore and Philadelphia, U.
S. emigrant officers, each with Superintend-
ant, at salary of $4,000, who may have two
clerks of first and second class. -'sa
A general order has just been issued from
the War Department in relation to trials by
military courts and commissions, stating that
whereas, some doubt as to the operation OF
the proclamation of the President dated April
I'd, 1866, upon trials by courts martial and mil
itary offences, to remove such doubts It is Or
dered by the President that hereafter, when
ever offences are committed by civilians, they
are to be tried where civil tribunals are in ex-
istence to- try them. Their cases are not to
be, and will not be, brought before the militia
ry courts martial or commissions, but will be
committed to the proper civil authorities
This order is not applicable to camp follow
ers, as provided for under the Goth article of
war, and to contractors and others, as specified
in section 16 Of the. act of July 18th, 1852, and
sections and 2 ot. the act of March I'd, 1868,
persons and offences cognizable by the rules
and articles of war and acts of Congress-
The Goth section of the rules and articles of
war provides that all suffers and retainers to
corps, and all persons whatsoever serving with
the armies of the United States in the field,
though not enlisted soldiers, are to be subject
to orders according to the rules and discipline
Of war.
The acts of Congress, to which reference is
made, provide that whenever any contractor
for subsistence, clothing, arms, ammunition,
munitions of war, and for every description Of
supplies for the army and navy of the United
States shall be found guilty by court martial
of fraud or wilful neglect of duty, be shall be
punished by fine or Imprisonment, as the court
shall adjudge; and further provision is made
for the punishment OF persons defrauding the
the army and navy and civil service, by pro-
curing false vouchers, or entering into conspir-
acy with any persons in the employment of
the Government, with view to fraud and 9TH
er kindred offences.
In the Senate to-day, Mr.. Sherman intro
duced the following as an act to reduce the
rate OF interest on the national debt, and for
funding the same: - = y
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States in Con-
sreSs assembled that the Secretary. of the
Treasury is hereby authorized, if he shall
deem it expedient for the purpose of funding
the national debt and reducing the rate of in
terest thereon, to issue registered or coupon
bonds of the United States, in such form and
OF such denominations as he may prescribe,
payable principal and interest in coin, and
bearing interest at the rate of not oszoesding
hve per cent. per annum, payable semi-annu-
ally, such bonds to be made payable in not
over thirty years from date, to be issued to an
amount sufficient to cover all outstanding or
existing obi cations of the United States, and
to be disposed OF in such manner and on such
terms, not less than par as the Secretary of
the Treasury may deem most conducive to the
interests Of the Government, provided that
the expense of preparing, issuing and dispos-
ing OF such bonds shall not exceed two per
cent. of the amount disposed of, and provid-
ed also that the said bonds and the proceeds
thereof, shall be exclusively used in taking up
or retiring the obligations or indebtedness of
the United States, other than United States
notes.
SECT. 2. And be St further enacted, that the
bonds issued under this act shall be known as
the Consolidated Debt of the United States,n
and the same shall be exempt from taxation
in any form by or under State municipal or
local authority, and in consideration of the re-
duction OF the rate of interest effected by the
negotiation OF said bonds, the same and the
interest thereon and the income therefrom,
shall be exempt from the peyment of all taxes
or duties to the United States.
SECT. And be 1t further enacted, That the
amount OF interest saved by substitution of
live per cent. bonds for other Government Sc
curltles shall be applied to the payment of the
national debt, and that for the purpose of en-
suring the payment thereof, and in view of the
sinking fund contemplated by the act of Feb
10Th, 1867, the sum of at least $4,000, 900, in
cludlng the saving of interest aforesaid out of
any monies in the Treasury not otherwise ap-
propriated, shall be annually applied to the re-
ductlon or eXtinguishment of said debt, in
SUCH manner as may be determined by the
Secretary Of the Treasury, or as Congress may
hereafter direct
SECT. 5. And be 1t further enacted, That
for the purpose OF enabling the Secretary of
the Treasury to prepare for the funding or
payment OF the outstanding Treasury notes
bearing interest at the rate of seven and
three -tenths per cent per annum, holders of
such notes are hereby required to advise the
Secretary of the Treasury in such manner as
he may prescribe, at least six manths before
the maturity Of such notes, whether they elect
that such notes shall be paid at maturity or
shall be converted into bonds of the United
States, commonly designated as 5-20 bonds,
and the right on the spot of such holders of
converting such Treasury notes into bonds
shall be deemed and taken to be waived as to
each and every note in relation to which no
tice shall be given as above prescribed, and
the same shall be paid at maturity in lawful
money of the United States.
Nearly 300 specimens of writing executed
by soldiers who had lost their right arm in the
service, were exhibited yesterday to distin-
glished officers, who commended the skill Of
the crippled braves, and insisted that the Gov
ernment and people should interest themselves
in giving them employment. flA
The following is a statement of the public
debt on the 1st Of May:
The total debt bearing coin interest is ST.
1S6,092, ,S41 80; total debt bearing currency in
terest is $1.1SS, 13,54462. Matured debt,not
presented for payment, $S77,729.64; total
debt bearing no interest, 1852 ,392, ,755.54.-
Grand total debt, $2,e27 GIGS Amount
in the Treasury, S137 1857 ,02SS2, of which
$76,676,470.02 is in coin. Amount of debt
less cash in the Treasury, $2,sS9,6 ,S42.7S.
From Hacana.
% New YORK, May2.
The steamer Eagle, from Havana 2Sth ult..