Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-05-22
FROM WASHGNGT0N.
WASHINGTON, May q, 1866.

W hAShIrGIONt Ilds ~ ICOO.
THE IRON CLADs.
Commander Beaumont, of the United States
steamer Miantonomah, in recent report to the Navy
Department from Halifax, states that the conduct
of the vessel in rough weather experienced on the
voyage, confirmed the opinions previously expressed
by him in communicating to the Department, that
she is an excellent sea boat, and safe and more
comfortable than any vessel in which he bad ever
performed service. Since the arrival of the Mianto-
nomah at Halifax she has been visited by the naval
ed III strong terms their admiration Of the vessel.
All the reports which have been received at the Navy
Department testify in strong terms, the sea going
qualities of the iron clad vessels the experiences be-
ing much easier than those encountered during rough
weather in vessels of other descriptions.
MINISTER TO MEXICO.
Hon. Lewis D. Campbell. Minister to the Republic
of Mexico had lengthy interview with the President
to-day.
CAPTURED REBEL PROPERTY.
BY the act of July and August, 1851 all property of
citizens of inSurrectonary States found therein Ill
transitu and all vessels belonging to insurgents were
required when captured To be forfeited and the pro-
ceeds of sales paid into the Treasury for the of
the United States The proceeds large captures of
such property amounting TO several millions of dol
lars, claimed By military and naval officers and
they are accordingly taking measures, through the
Admiralty courts, 20 have the property condemned
and adjudged to their own use and that Of the naval
pension fund The question is now pending before
the Supreme Court whether such property, so cap
tured should be forfeited to the United States for
the benefit of the captOrS.
In view of these facts the House of Represents
tiyes not long ago. directed the Secretary of the
until the judicial question shall be determined, and
requested him to take such means as in his judg
United States in such cases fully adjusted. The Sec
retary in response, says that it does not appear By
the files Of the Treasury Department that the re-
cepts Of any such property as is described in the
House resolution have been claimed by officers of the
army, nor does it distinctly appear how much, if
any. has been claimed by officers of the navy.
Six hundred and elghty-EeYen prize cases have
been decreed amounting to nearly $25 600 JJ which
amount, deducting say one half credited to the navy
spension fund.- has been paid, follows:
Amount paid to officers of the navy, ST. 900; and
to enlisted of the navy, .341 000 or total of
Sl0l03 000 The files of the department do not fur
nish satisfactory means of determining what pro-
portion of these amounts consists of the pro-
ceeds Of property comprehend in the scope Of
that fact is not distinctly shown by the certificates of
disrihutlOD it can be 9Scertained only oy eXampa
ton of the records of the several the files of
the respective courts. The law of June, 1864, ex-
pressly provides that the net amount decreed for
distribution to the United States to vessels of tho
navy shall be ordered by the court to be paid into
the Treasury, to be distributed according to the de-
of the court, which the Secretary says, in this
respect seems to leave no discretion to the depart
ment.
1t further appears that 80 cases remain pending in
the United STATES Supreme Court, and 266 cases in
the Circuit or District CoartS-n all 800 cases-al of
them nOminally cases of prize of Waf, but more or
less OF which may be cases OF revenue forfeiture
der the acts of July and August. The amount in
litigation is equal to S95 goo. The Secretary has
taken steps to investigate the character Of all these
cases.
The President to-day sent message to Congress
containing correspondence between Secretary Sew
ard and Commodore Vanderbilt. The former sent a
letter dated April lItb 1856 to the latter thanking
him for the generous gift Of the steamer Vanderbilt
during the late war, and saying it wasnow his pleas
ing duty to forward the gold medal authorized by
Congress, and that the Commodore could not fail
act referred to, rendered his country signal service
at critical period in its history. The Commodore
replies at length expressing the satisfaction with
which he has received the precious token OF remem
brance,