The Portland daily press., 1866-01-11
From, WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10.
Hon. Noah Smith, of Maine, was to-day
promoted to the position of Principal Legis-
lative Clerk of the Senate. in place of Major
William j. Mcdonald, who has been promoted
to Chief Clerk in the place of Gen. Hickey,
deceased.
Speaker ColfaX's reception viii commence
at his residence on Thursday evening, Janua-
ry 18th, and be continued every Thursday ev-
ening thereafter.
The Navy Appropriation bill reported to-
day in the House, contains an appropriation
for the Boston navy yard Of $579,3S1, of
which $l35,000 is for the purchase OF oakum
and Eldridge's Wharf The appropriation for
the Portsmouth navy yard is $299,9S9, of
which 100000 is for the purchase of Georges
Island, provided a clear bill can be obtained.
A resolution passed the House to-day, re-
questing the committee on Ways and Means
to inquire into the expediency of lessening
the import duties ON cotton factories. .s
VoluminOus papers relative to rebel emigra-
ton to Mexico and the scheme of Gwin and
Maury were presented to the Senate to-day.
Senior Romero first calls the attention of
Mr.. Seward, July 9th, 1864, to the address of
Gen. Magruder and Gov Vidauri's reply,
showing perfect understanding between the
traitors in Mexico and the insurgents in the
United States. He intimates that the French
Minister to Mexico, Montholon, was working
to that end, and that armed emigration from
the Atlantic States and from California, was
in immediate contemplation.
Under date of February 9th, 1865, he fur
ther notifies the Secretary of the understand
ing that settlement had been proposed by
Napoleon, by virtue of which the Mexican
States of Tamaulipas, New Leon and Coah-
Mia, with parts OF San Luis Potosi, Seacate-
ras Durango and Chihuahua, and almost the
whole of Sonora and the Peninsula of Lower
California are to be coded to France, and that
to make so considerable a cession of Mexican
territory acceptable, the Emperor would plant
there military colony, which would shelter
the remainder of the country from fillibuster-
ing attacks from the United States This ar
rangement, of which he cites evidence from
Mexico, California and Paris, he protests
against. reminding the Secretary of a. fact
slightly resembling the present, when the rep
resentatives of the French government in
Mexico protested against treaty concluded
between Mexico and the United States, of
much less importance than the present, only
because of a vague rumor, more or less found
ed, that it had been concluded, and before
they had official notice of its execution.
Mr.. Seward replies, under date of February
2Sth, 1865, that the protest had been placed GU
file, as testimony to the course of Mr.. Rome
70, and additional evidence of the jealous and
patriotic discharge of his functions, and for
such other purposes and uses as future events
may render it necessary to apply it.
On the 25th of April NJ Romero communi-
Gated to MIR. Seward the correspondence be-
tween the rebel Gen. Slaughter and the Mexi-
can Gen. Mejia, relative to the capture of the
Mexican steamer Orizaba by the rebels, under
the plea that she was manned by citizens of
the United States, as additional proof of the
political interests which exist between the in
surgents of this country and the partizans of
the French cause in Mexico. 0l q.
..t WASHINGTON, Jan. 10.
The Senate to-day confirmed Solomon L.
Sphinx as Secretary of the Territory of Dako-
tab, vice John Hutchinson, resigned Also,
Henry Hammond, of West Lillingsly, Conn,
as Collector of the Tirdd District of Connecti-
| cut.
Senator Foote has received dispatch from
Hon. George Bancroft, signifying his accept
ance of the invitation to deliver an address
| upon the life and character of President Lin
coin before the two Houses Of Congress, in the
| Hall of Representatives, on the 18th of Feb
ruary, proximo. That time was appropriately
selected for these ceremonies, it being Mr.. Lin
coins anniversary birthday.
Hon. John A. j. Creswell. Senator from
Maryland, has been selected by the committee
to deliver an eulogy upon the late Hon. Henry
Winter Davis, before the members of the
House of Representatives.
Official information has been received at the
department of State, that the examination OF
passports on the frontiers of the Austrian EN-
pire has been abandoned. - t
The President to-day transmitted to the Sem
ate message in reply to the resolution calling
upon MN 10 inform that body upon what
charges jeff Davis is confined, and why he Is
not brought to trial. :
The President encloses report from the
Secretary of War and the ATTORNEY General
and at he same time invites the attention oi
the Senate to that portion of his annual mes
sage, which refers to Congress the question
connected with the holding of Circuit Courts
of the United States within the Districts where
their authority has been interrupted
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington, Jan. a, 1866.
Sir:-In the annexed Senate resolution
passed Dec. 81, 1865, and referred to me b!
T hax-a f1,a1 60 Gvcf